Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters of Oil and Gas Terminal Effluent of the Bonny Estuary, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess resultant impact of industrial activities on the physicochemical parameters of the Bonny estuary. Water sampled at a depth of 100cm from three stations (BE1- E3) were analyzed for 24 parameters. pH, temperature, conductivity, and turbidity were measured in-situ with HORIBA U-10 water quality checker, while TDS was measured with HACH meter. Other 19 parameters were analyzed in the laboratory following APHA (1998) standard method. Students-T test and Snedecor's F-Distribution were adopted to analyze data at 0.05%. Result shows that BOD , Cadmium, Chromium, Ammonia, 5Phosphate, Chloride, Nitrate, Oil and Grease were above Standard recommended by DPR and NESREA for all industries. Temperature, TSS, Lead, Ammonia, Vanadium and Phosphate concentrated highest at the point of wastewater discharged (BE2), signifying obvious effects of the industrial activities on the Bonny estuary, other parameters (pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, BOD , Cu, Cr, Cl, Nitrate, Fe, Cd, Oil and Gas) had highest before the point of 5 wastewater discharge is influenced by the flowing water; exposing the estuary resources to potential risk. There is a statistical significant relationship between sample station BE1 and BE2 at 0.05%. It is therefore important to continuously monitor industrial activities in the area to protect end users.