Physico-Chemical Parameters of Woji Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria (Published)
The water quality of Woji Creek of Rivers State, Nigeria, were study between November 2015 to May 2016. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in all the parameters recorded. The values recorded ranged from 7.13 ± 0.42 to 7.58 ± 0.67 (pH), 30.02 ± 1.52oC to 31.03 ± 1.92oC (Temperature), 6.34 ± 5.13mg/L to 9.65 ± 7.91mg/L (Alkalinity), 7.81mg/L ± 3.56mg/L to 12.74mg/L ± 4.79mg/L (Salinity), 6.41mg/L ± 3.20mg/L to 8.4mg/L ± 3.62mg/L (flow Velocity), 15.31mg/L ± 7.19mg/L to 29.31mg/L ± 15.58mg/L (Conductivity), 10.06mg/L ± 4.74mg/L to 15.08mg/L ± 4.51mg/L (TDS), 3.25mg/L ± 2.33mg/L to 7.59mg/L ± 11.30mg/L (TSS), 2.21mg/L + 0.72mg/L to 2.85mg/L ± 2.92 (BOD), 11.96mg/L ± 3.98mg/L to 14.78mg/L ± 3.74mg/L (COD) and Dissolved Oxygen (3.64mg/L ± 1.30mg/L to 7.00mg/L ± 2.33mg/L). There were obvious fluctuation in the ecological variables (p < 0.05) except DO concentrations that were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The physico-chemical parameters of Woji Creek were favourable for fish production although some were to a large extent above the WHO limits. The study revealed that environmental regulatory bodies can achieve good water quality by protecting the water bodies from negative impacts of abattoir and domestic wastes, industrial effluent and refuse through satisfactory wastewater treatment and management practices such as waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Keywords: Abattoir, Sediments, Temperature, refuse and recycling