ABSTRACT

This study examined the seasonal variation in the physicochemical characteristics of surface water in Aba River in Abia State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from three sampling points (upstream, midstream and downstream) during the dry (October, 2018 – December, 2018) and wet (March, 2018 – May, 2018) seasons. The water samples collected were determined using APHA standards. Various statistical techniques such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis and t-test comparison analysis were applied to analyze the data obtained and the results were also compared to WHO and SON standards which showed that Aba river water quality has significant seasonal changes. From t-test analysis, the pH and Temperature were slightly higher in the dry season than that of the wet season and they differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) from each other. BOD in the wet season (1.733 mg/l) and dry season (1.445mg/l), COD in wet season (0.00 mg/l) and dry season (0.220 mg/l),  Conductivity in wet season (45.10 µs/cm) and dry season (44.560 µs/cm) and Alkalinity (1.0 mg/l) both in wet and dry seasons, did not differ respectively from each other statistically (P ≥ 0.05). Therefore, it is recommended that the anthropogenic influences should be monitored and controlled on a monthly basis. There should be proper treatment of industrial and domestic effluents before discharge into the river, coupled with regular seasonal assessment of surface water to provide a better understanding about the pollution in the water resulting to seasonal variation.