Abstract
WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND POLLUTION INDICES IN PORT HARCOURT, SOUTHERN NIGERIA
Offodile P. O., Nwankwoala H. O., Onwualu-John J. N. and Osayande A. D.*
ABSTRACT
The physico-chemical and trace metal profiles of surface and groundwater samples collected from several locations in both Obio-Akpor LGA and Port Harcourt LGA of Rivers State was evaluated using appropriate procedures such as the usage of calibrated meter electrodes and spectrophotometry. The water quality index (WQI) and Nemerow?s Pollution index (NPI) values of the examined samples was also conducted using relevant standards. The overall mean pH and TDS values ranged from 5.133 to 6.003 and 76.6 mg/l to 391.5. Turbidity values ranged from 4.2 to 4.5 NTU. The mean Fe and Cu values ranged from 0.021 ? 0.02 mg/l to 0.117 ? 0.1 mg/l and 0.033 ? 0.01 mg/l to 0.066 ? 0.1 mg/l. The mean Pb and Cd data varied from 0.023 ? 0.01 mg/l to 0.771 ? 0.9 mg/l and 0.002 ? 0.004 mg/l to 0.0024 ? 0.005 mg/l. All the WQI values for the water samples were >100 which indicated the unsuitability of the water samples for direct human consumption. The NPI values for Pb was >1 for all the water samples. The observed variety of anthropogenic activities occurring within the study area ranging from the indiscriminate disposal of wastes to improper placement of commercial facilities such as car wash, auto mechanic workshops invariably affected the quality of the exposed water bodies in a negative manner.
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