SPATIAL VARIATION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS

ABSTRACT

The natural ecosystem of freshwater bodies has been altered by pollution from natural and anthropogenic activities such as the over-exploitation of natural resources and the discharge of industrial effluents into waterways. This study aims to determine the spatial variation in the physicochemical parameters of the Siluko River, Edo State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected monthly from four (4) stations along the River course for a period of a period of four (4) months, September to December, 2021. The water samples were analysed for eighteen (18) physicochemical parameters according to outlined procedures in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA) and the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Environment Standard for Surface Water (FMEnv.) was implemented as the reference standard. Water quality Index was determined using Weighted Arithmetic Mean method. Results showed that except for lead, the mean concentrations of all the physicochemical parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05) across the four study stations. Concentrations of the physico – chemical parameters were within the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment permissible limits except turbidity and lead. The Water Quality Index (WQI) values ranged from 74.94 in Station 1 to 143.32 in Station 4. Station 1 had poor water quality, station 2 had very poor water quality; while stations 3 and 4 had water quality that was unfit for consumption. To mitigate the negative effects of anthropogenic activities on Siluko River, it is recommended that water quality monitoring be done regularly to ascertain the causes and sources of pollution and residents should be discouraged from illegally dumping waste and sewage into the River.