Physicochemical characteristics of Ivo River, Ebonyi state, Nigeri

Abstract

A study was carried out on the physiochemical characteristics of Ivo River in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria to determine the present level of pollution of the river water due to incidental industrial, agricultural and human activities. The results showed that pH, temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, potassium, calcium, silica, sulphate and chloride which had value ranges of 7.2 – 7.4, 27 – 28.2 0C, 40.4-150μs/cm, 22 – 39 ppm, 2.4 – 9.0 ppm, 0.07 – 0.17 ppm, 0.1 – 4.0 ppm, 1.007- 1.48 ppm, 4.55 – 65.88 ppm, and 31.62 – 47.13 ppm respectively, were below the maximum permissible standards. The range of value of turbidity (0.8 – 60.2 NTU), total suspended solids (6.1 – 19.14 ppm) and sodium (82 – 89 ppm) were above the standards of WHO but below that of Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) standards. Good refuse and sewage disposal practices, proper management and control of industrial wastes emanating from rock blasting and lead-zinc mining should be encouraged in the area.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(2) 2005: 145-149