Effect of flooding on the physicochemical quality of Mehmeh stream, Lokoja, Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of flooding on the physicochemical quality of Mehmeh River in Lokoja Nigeria was studied. The metallic content of the river was carried out using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Results of this study indicated an increase in the concentrations of the parameters studied. A comparative study on the concentrations before and during the flood indicated  objectionable increase in the values of the parameters due to the upsurge in the particulate matter as the water traverses its course. Parameters such as temperature, turbidity, conductivity, total solids were higher in  concentration during the flooding than before the flood. The pH and alkalinity were less during the flood than prior to the flood plausibly due to the large volume of total soluble solids. The pH range during the flood was 6.3-6.9, while 6.89-7.8 was recorded before the flood. Heavy and alkaline metals were observed to increase tremendously during the flood than before the flood. Such increase occurred in the metals: Cu, Pb, Fe, Cr, Ni, Ca, K and Na. However, Cd and Zn were not detected. It was also observed that anthropogenic activities contributed to these increase in metal concentration as wastewater from both industrial and domestic sources are discharged into the water body by inhabitants living around the area.

Keywords: Flood, pollution, heavy metals, physicochemical, FAAS.