Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters of New Calabar and Orashi Rivers Exposed to Open Waste Discharge in Nigeria

Abstract

Water is an indispensable resource necessary for life sustenance, social and economic development. Nevertheless exposure to untreated wastes undermines the quality of water bodies. This research therefore, assessed the quality of New Calabar and Orashi Rivers in Rivers State of Nigeria, between December 2020 and October 2021. The results revealed that the analysed physiochemical parameters varied across the months and sampling points. The minimum values of pH, DO and BOD were below the World Health Organisation (WHO) limit. Chloride and sulphate in New Calabar River are above the threshold limit, but within acceptable limits in Orashi River. Temperature, EC, TDS, TSS, phosphate and nitrate were within the acceptable limits. The concentrations of EC and chloride were extremely higher in New Calabar River compared to Orashi River. The results also showed that the physicochemical parameters varied between the dry and wet seasons, but both rivers were more polluted in the dry season. The level of physicochemical parameters in the water samples indicated that both rivers are contaminated and not suitable for domestic use. Therefore, it become imperative that the agencies responsible for maintenance of river quality take proactive measures to design, develop and implement strategies that will improve the current state of Orashi and New Calabar Rivers.