Evaluation of Physicochemical Characteristics and Carbonate Equilibria System of the New Calabar River, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Carbonate equilibrium helps to critically determine the degree or level of pollution and its possible source. In this study the physicochemical properties and carbonate equilibria system of the New Calabar River, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria was evaluated using standard techniques by analyzing the pH, total dissolved solid, bicarbonate ion, sulphate ion, chloride ion, total alkalinity and total hardness of five samples collected from strategic points along the River. Data obtained show that the pH ranged 5.93-6.33, while TDS values varied from 4770mg/l to 5280mg/l. The total alkalinity of the sample 1, sample 2, sample 3, sample 4 and sample 5 analyzed and their results are 70mg/l, 68 mg/l, 66 mg/l, 73 mg/l and 60.5 mg/l respectively. The total hardness of sample 1, sample 2, sample 3, sample 4 and sample 5 collected from the New Calabar River and the results are 913mg/l, 904 mg/l, 942 mg/l, 933 mg/l and 939 mg/l. The sulphate ion concentration for sample 1, sample 2, sample 3, sample 4 and sample 5 are 519.20mg/l, 510.5mg/l, 552mg/l, 543mg/l and 549.00mg/l, while the Chloride concentration varied from 3390.5 mg/l to 4,802 mg/l mg/l. Result indicated that all physiochemical parameters apart from total alkalinity was not within the WHO guidelines or standard and the river shows presence of weak acid deposits but very high concentration of chloride ion which indicates higher degree of organic pollution and also acidic in nature. Thus, the river poses a health risk to the rural communities who rely primarily on them as the only source of domestic water supply.