Water Quality Assessment of Elechi Creek Receiving Effluent Discharges from Industrial Activities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The Physico-chemistry and heavy metal analyses of Elechi creek were assessed to determine the level of contamination and concentration of metals in the water body. Standard analytical procedures were used during the study. The study showed that pH recorded 7.00-7.35 in surface water; 6.60-7.00 in wastewater while Temperature of the surface water samples ranged from 27.9-29.0°C, Wastewater samples also recorded temperatures values of 26.9-27.8°C in all sampled stations. The values of metals in the surface water ranged from 0.14 to 0.26 mg l-1 for Fe, 0.04 to 0.09 mg l-1 for Cu and 1.21 to 1.42 mg l-1 for Zn. The mean values for Pb, Cr, Mn and Cd were 0.001 mg l-1 in all the stations. The mean values in the wastewater samples ranged from 7.25 to 16.62 mg l-1 for Fe, 4.70 to 8.50 mg l-1 for Zn, 0.21 to 0.34 mg l-1 for Mn, 0.13 to 0.22 mg l-1 for Cr, 0.06 to 0.12 mg l-1 for Pb, 0.03 to 0.07 mg l-1 for Cu and 0.001 mg l-1 for Cd. There were no significant differences across the sampled stations; although some of the metals were below permissible limits. The study revealed that the water is heavily polluted but not contaminated with the waste products it receives, although the accumulated presence of these pollutants in the water can pose an environmental threat in the near future.