An Evaluation of the Physicochemical Quality of Lobia Creek in the Niger Delta

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of water play a major role in evaluating water quality and could serve as a tool to determine the impact of human activities on the water body. Water samples were collected from four different stations with human activities (Abattoir, toilet, jetty, and drinking water points) along Lobia creek and from the fifth station without any human activity which served as a control. The impact of human activities on the physicochemical characteristics of Lobia creek was investigated and determined using the APHA method. Results showed that the temperature of the water samples ranged from 27.20±1.13 to 27.35±0.92ºC with the abattoir station recording the highest value while the control had the least temperature value. The pH values ranged from 6.80±0.52 to 7.23±0.95. The control had the highest while the toilet and jetty stations recorded the least pH value. Electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 6300±1.41 to 16100±8.69µs/cm and Total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 3905±70.4 to 11075±7.69mg/L. The jetty station recorded the highest TDS while the drinking water station had the least. The salinity ranged from 0.03±0.04 to 0.16±0.15mg/L. The turbidity values ranged from 0.30±0.12 to 0.69±0.001 NTU. Chlorine and Bromine values recorded were<0.001mg/L in all stations. DO values ranged from 1.30±0.42 to 2.30±0.98mg/L. The jetty had the highest DO compared to all other stations. TheBOD5 ranged from 0.85±0.07 to 1.90±0.56mg/L. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) ranged from 0.49±0.36 to 0.82±0.19 mg/L and the toilet station had the highest value. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the temperature, pH, salinity, chlorine, bromine, EC, and BOD values across the five stations of the Lobia Creek. While there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in the values of TDS and turbidity across the five stations of the Lobia Creek. The correlation results revealed that Temperature, Salinity, and DO were significantly correlated with pH, EC, and TDS, while the total and feacal coliforms showed a negative significant correlation with turbidity. The variation in the values of the physicochemical parameters is attributed to the different anthropogenic activities in each station. Generally, water samples of the drinking water station and the Control station were of better quality than the other stations. This showed that human activities have an impact on the water quality of Lobia creek. Based on the findings, the Lobia creek water is not fit for drinking and for other purposes for which it is currently being used. Proper treatment of the water before use and proper treatment of waste before disposal is therefore advocated to avoid public health hazards in the Lobia community.