Assessing Some Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Luubara Creek in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Water quality and biodiversity impacts are influenced by the physical and chemical properties of water. An annual study was carried out in Luubara Creek, located in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, spanning from April 2022 to March 2023. Throughout the study period, the water temperature in Luubara Creek fluctuated between 24.50 and 30.20 ºC, with an average of 27.17±1.39 ºC. Noteworthy variations were observed among stations 1, 2, 3, and 4. Over the course of the investigation year, the pH levels in Luubara Creek ranged from 6.16 to 0.55, indicating a tendency towards neutrality or acidity. The PH levels at the four stations (Wiiyaakara, Luubara, Duboro, and Bane) gradually transitioned from acidic to neutral, except for Station 4 (Bane). The average dissolved oxygen content was 4.68±1.56 throughout the study, with a statistically significant difference observed at Station 4 (p˂0.05). The mean conductivity of the creek during the study was 27.69 s/cm. The total alkalinity of the creek ranged from 5.23 to 84.74, with a mean value of 11.60±1.01. Station 1 exhibited a total alkalinity mean of 14.13± 3.54, while stations two, three, and four showed values of 8.03±1.61, 7.52±1.81, and 17.21±7.39, respectively. Phosphate levels at Station 1 ranged from 0.05–0.25, whereas at Stations 2, 3, and 4, they varied from 0.01–0.24, 0.05–0.15, and 0.07–0.25. The nitrate concentration during the study period was 0.54±0.46, with Station 1 recording a mean of 0.62±0.10, and Stations 2, 3, and 4 showing values of 0.48±0.30, 0.51±0.48, and 0.55±0.38, respectively. Both phosphate and nitrate levels fell within the recommended range set by SON.