In this study, effluent discharged from brewery was collected to assess its impact on the water quality of Niger River, Onitsha. The values of the effluent discharge from brewery were compared with values recorded for its receiving river. Parameters investigated include total suspended solid (TSS), Biological Oxygen Demand (BODs), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH, Temperature, conductivity and Dissolved Oxygen (Do). ANOVA test was used for the analyses of these parameters, with the exception of the pH, all the parameters measured from the brewery effluent site as well as in the river indicated higher levels than those permitted by the Nigerian industrial standard and WHO. The study revealed that effluent from the wastes treatment plant has higher BODs (142 Mg/L) and COD (400Mg/L) than those of receiving river (88.6 Mg/L and 198.22 Mg/L means) respectively. The indicators of all pollutions exceed the WHO and Nigeria industrial standard recommendations. It is therefore, being recommended that the brewery authorities as well as the Nigerian industrial standard must ensure that the brewery effluents meet quality standards. This action is urgently warranted as high level pollution of the industrial effluents cause environmental problems which will affect plants, animals and human lives.
Keywords: Impact, Interfact PLC, Niger River, Onitsha, brewery effluent, discharge
