ABSTRACT
The quality of Ekulu-emene river
is not guaranteed because of the high rate of anthropogenic degradation through
municipal disposal, dump spots at the brigde, Industrial effluent discharge
from Innoson technical Ltd and Emenite Ltd, agricultural runoff from near by
farm lands, abattoir practices at the river bank, bathing, washing e.t.c.
Communities around rely on it as their source of drinking, bathing, washing of
cloths, irrigation e.t.c. The objective of the study was to determine the
impact of these anthropogenic activities on Ekulu-Emene river. Water samples
were collected from the study area and analyzed for physical, chemical and
biological parameters. Parameters such as pH, alkalinity, salinity,
conductivity, turbidity, total hardness, total solids (TS), total dissolved
solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD). All the water samples were slightly acidic (5.96- 6.54)
The results were compared against drinking water quality standards laid down by
World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water
(NSDW). The surface waters have high levels of total dissolved solids,
conductivity and low salinity. The BOD of the water showed that the water had
high organic loading.The increases in pH, nitrates, iron, chloride, magnesium,
BOD, DO, calcium and zinc in point A, B, C and D might be due to effluent
discharge from lnnoson Technical Ltd and Emenite Ltd. The biological and
microbial analysis indicate the presence of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
auregenosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Citrobacter frendii, Proteus mirabilis.
Results also showed that the chemical and biological parameters exceeded the
WHO and NIS permissible limits. It is recommended that the communities that
depend on Ekulu-Emene river as their source of water supply should be boiling
and filtering the water properly before domestic use especially drinking and
cooking to avoid ingesting cyst e.g E.coli cyst. Other treatment methods like
use of alum, lime or other local or natural means of water purification before using
the water or chemical means e.g water guard detol and izol if available to the
them for bathing, scrubbing and laundring is recommended to avoid skin
reactions. Finally the communities should prohibit implicating activities e.g
municipal disposal, Industrial effluent discharge, defecating and Abattoir
practices at the river bank to avoid and reduce health risks.
ILOGHALU, I (2024). Assessement Of Water Quality Of Ekulu-Emene-River In Enugu State, Nigeria:- Iloghalu, Maryann C.. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Dec 25, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessement-of-water-quality-of-ekulu-emene-river-in-enugu-state-nigeria-iloghalu-maryann-c-7-2
ILOGHALU, ILOGHALU. "Assessement Of Water Quality Of Ekulu-Emene-River In Enugu State, Nigeria:- Iloghalu, Maryann C." Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 11 Jan. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessement-of-water-quality-of-ekulu-emene-river-in-enugu-state-nigeria-iloghalu-maryann-c-7-2. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
ILOGHALU, ILOGHALU. "Assessement Of Water Quality Of Ekulu-Emene-River In Enugu State, Nigeria:- Iloghalu, Maryann C.". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 11 Jan. 2024. Web. 25 Dec. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessement-of-water-quality-of-ekulu-emene-river-in-enugu-state-nigeria-iloghalu-maryann-c-7-2 >.
ILOGHALU, ILOGHALU. "Assessement Of Water Quality Of Ekulu-Emene-River In Enugu State, Nigeria:- Iloghalu, Maryann C." Mouau.afribary.org (2024). Accessed 25 Dec. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessement-of-water-quality-of-ekulu-emene-river-in-enugu-state-nigeria-iloghalu-maryann-c-7-2