Assessing the Water Quality of Akwa Ibom State North-West District, Nigeria, using Water Quality Indices and Palmer Pollution Index

Abstract

Freshwater bodies of Akwa Ibom State North-West District, Nigeria, were studied between May and December 2021 at seven sampling stations based on human activities. The indices used were water quality index (WQI) for drinking water purpose, comprehensive pollution index (CPI) for aquatic life sustainability, and Palmer pollution index (PPI) for organic pollution. Thirteen physicochemical parameters were scrutinized using standard methods and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. All the physicochemical parameters evaluated were within the acceptable limits, except pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), and nitrate in some stations. The phytoplankton identified comprised13 genera of pollution indicators out of 41 genera of the total population, among which Bacillariophyceae accounted for 46.55%. The WQI values ranged between 38.86 and 54.63 based on weighted arithmetic method. The CPI values ranged from 0.35 to 0.46, while the PPI score ranged between 1 and 23. The values of WQI and CPI obtained in stations I, III, and IV revealed poor water quality which was unfit for human consumption and sustenance of aquatic life. The obtained value for PPI revealed that stations I, III, IV, VI, and VII were organically polluted. The occurrence of pollution indicator genera in these stations further proved that the water bodies were moderately polluted owing to anthropogenic perturbation. The activities of humans within the watershed should be of concern to the relevant authorities; regulation of these activities should be enforced to minimize the situation of water deterioration and for regaining the natural water quality to support aquatic life and health and make it fit for domestic usage.

Composition, Abundance and Diversity of Plankton in Hand-Dug Wells in Ikpe Community, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…Based on the foregoing, the buckets used in fetching water from these wells could also serve as a source of planktonic introduction. The presence of some taxonomic groups only and/or in high numbers in wells 4 and 5; suggests enrichment from the environment (Khalil et al, 2021;Jonah and Archibong, 2022). The community structure showed that number of taxa ranged between 8 (well 2) and 13 (wells 4 and 5) and the number of individuals ranged between 120 individuals (well 2) and 157 individuals (well 5).…”

“…The composition, abundance and distribution of plankton can be used to reliably assess the water quality of aquatic bodies and no single particular physicochemical parameter is responsible for the fluctuations of plankton populations (Anyanwu and Mbekee, 2020;Jonah et al, 2020;Anyanwu et al, 2021a, b;Jonah and Archibong, 2022). The mean and range of the physicochemical parameters are summarized in Table 1.…”

Characterization of physicochemical parameters and insect composition in a reservoir in Northern Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…The maximum value recorded at the peak of the rainy season (September 2022) suggests the largest volume of water via runoff into the water accompanied by solids particles. The elevated values in June 2022 for pH, nitrate and phosphate were ascribed to the seasonal influence (Anyanwu et al 2022a;Jonah & Archibong, 2022) while the higher concentrations of magnesium, calcium and sodium in dry month (January 2023) are ascribed to many factors such as reduction of volume water, reduced rainfall, high temperature and evaporation (Ling et al, 2017b). Calcium ion is one of the major inorganic substances present in nearly all water systems attributable to its easy solubility from all rocks, including limestone, chalk, dolomite and gypsum (Bartram & Ballance, 1996).…”