Physicochemical Characteristics of Surface Water and Sediment of Silver River, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Water and sediment samples were collected from Silver River to determine the levels of various physicochemical parameters in both sediment and water from the river. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the extent of deterioration of the river as a result of artisanal refining of crude oil. The result obtained showed that the mean values of the different parameters examined in the water were; conductivity (26,567±464.28 µS/cm), total dissolved solids (TDS), (13,250±187.08 mg/L), total suspended solids (TSS), (17.78±3.07 mg/L), turbidity (15.57±2.45 NTU), pH (7.12±0.03), salinity (8766.67±449.69 mg/L), total hydrocarbon content (THC) (45.43±3.86 mg/L), nitrates (NO 3 -), (4.93±0.61 mg/L), sulphates (SO 4 2-) (1471.07±1058.43 mg/L), phosphates (PO 4 3 ), (0.64±0.16 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (DO), (4.73±0.57 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), (33.20±2.33 mg/L) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), (50.13±3.21 mg/L). Physicochemical parameters such as conductivity, TDS, salinity, THC, SO 4 2-, DO, BOD and COD fall below the standard requirement for domestic water consumption, while TSS, turbidity, pH, NO 3 and PO 4 3were within the acceptable range for drinking water by WHO. The mean values of sediment physicochemical parameters were; pH (7.20±0.03), conductivity (16701.67±513.65 µS/cm), total organic carbon (TOC) (2.37±0.05%) and total organic matter (TOM) (4.09±0.09%). The particle size examination showed that clay was 7.33±1.25%, silt (14.67±1.25%) and sand (78.00±1.63%). The examined sediment nutrient species showed that the mean values were 0.51±0.01, 8.81±12.09 and 0.27±0.01mg/kg for NO 3 -, SO 4 2and PO 4 3respectively. The findings of this work showed that the silver river (both water and sediment) are under human influence which not handled in the immediate, can in the near future constitute a major health risk to the entire environment.

Quality of Water and Air in Artisanally Refined Crude Oil-impacted Communities in Ekeremor, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

“…These parameters were however identified to insignificantly differ from the values recorded at the control site assessed in this study. Similar findings have also been reported in literature where reports of deranged physicochemical parameters have been reported to occur in relation to harmful oil and gas-related activities [23,25,26].…”

Impact of Domestic and Industrial Effluent Disposal on Physicochemical Characteristics of River Malin at Najibabad City, India

“…Turbidity readings exceeded the BIS (5 NTU) limit at every site. High turbidity levels can harm the aquatic ecosystem by reducing light penetration, which lowers photosynthetic activity in aquatic plants and decreases the dissolved oxygen level in the water (Simeon et al, 2019). According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines, the water quality of Malin River is classified as category E due to its turbidity levels, making it unsuitable for drinking, bathing, or irrigation.…”

“…Ling et al (2016) found the pH level in Malaysia's Balui River to be between 6 and 7.7. Simeon et al (2019) recorded the pH of Silver River to be between 7.06 and 7.14. Our study found the pH range of the Malin River to be slightly acidic at site 2 and neutral at all other sites.…”

“…The spillway from the dam significantly increased DO downstream. Simeon et al (2019) recorded the DO of Silver River as ranging from 4.0 to 5.4. reported DO values in the Narmada River ranging from 5.7 to 8.5 mg/L. The data from our study shows that the Malin River has significantly higher levels of pollution than the Narmada River.…”

“…Although BOD readings decreased as the river flowed downstream, site 4's BOD values also increased due to mixed household garbage. Simeon et al (2019) reported that a higher BOD value indicates ongoing microbial activity on available organic matter. Chandra et al (2011) found that BOD levels in several Indian rivers, including the Gomti, Krishna, Hoogaly, Ganga, Maha Nadi, and Cauveri, ranged from 2 to 8 mg/L.…”