This study assessed the quality of hand-dug drinking water sources in Eku and its environs at Eku I, Samagidi, Eku 2, and Okuechi, using the weighted arithmetic water quality index method. Water samples collected from hand-dug wells at these locations returned values for analyzed parameters. Temperature 26 – 30(⁰C), dissolved Oxygen (D.O) 5.2-8mg/l, biological oxygen demand (BOD) 5.2-8(mg/l), Electrical Conductivity (EC) 77-119(µS/cm), Total suspended solids were  (TSS) 20000-120000(mg/l), pH 5.31-7.09, Phosphates 2-9.2(mg/l), Alkalinity 28-160(mg/l), Turbidity, 0.02 -0.19(NTU) Total coliform 2 -48 (cfu/ml) and fungal count 1-502. Variations in the values of these parameters were only significant for phosphate, alkalinity, and turbidity between Samagidi and Okuechi at a level of significance of p≤0.05. D.O, BOD, phosphates, total coliform and TSS levels, exceeded standards recommended by NSDWQ/WHO, rendering these water sources unsuitable for drinking purposes. Cluster analysis revealed three cluster groups; cluster 1(Eku2), cluster 2(Samagidi), and cluster 3(Eku1 and Okuechi), while factor analysis showed a strong correlation with pH, D.O, BOD, phosphate, conductivity, total coliform and fungal counts with water sources in the study stations. The calculated WQI for these water sources is 107.56, 95.18, 103.45, and 110.36 for Eku I, Samagidi, Eku 2, and Okuechi, respectively, classifying them as very poor water quality and unsuitable for drinking purposes. Indiscriminate waste disposal, surface runoff and poor sanitary facilities, and the exposed nature of these wells are major contributors to the deterioration of these wells.

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The study was conducted to ascertain the effect of sub-lethal concentrations (0.00, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12 and 0.16mg/L) of Moringa oleifera leaf dust after the 21-day experimental period on selected biochemical parameters of hybrid catfish (Clarias gariepinus X Heterobranchus bidorsalis) with mean length (28.39 ± 0.33cm) and weight (99.34 ± 2.48g). The experiment was conducted using static renewable bioassay system with triplicate experimental setup. At the end of the experimental period, the blood, liver and kidney were obtained from the sacrificed fish. These tissue/organs were prepared for the selected biochemical parameters (uric acid, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, creatinine, urea, bilirubin, potassium and chloride) using standard procedures. These parameters were assayed using the standardized procedures of available commercial reagent kits. There were no significantly (p>0.05) difference in the tissue/organs mean inorganic phosphorus, urea, bilirubin and potassium. However, calcium level were significantly different (p<0.05) in fish exposed to the highest concentration of Moringa oleifera leaf dust. The kidney uric acid was showed significant difference fish exposed to 0.12 and 0.16mg/L Moringa oleifera leaf dust. in kidney uric acid compared to the control fish. The result suggested that the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf dust was mild at the exposed concentrations where concentrations of 0.12 and 0.16mg/L revealed highest changes observed.