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Mar 30, 2024Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Analysis of Physicochemical Characteristics of River Benue, Nigeria
Abstract
World Health Organization (WHO) published the guidelines for drinking water to protect aquatic life and public health. The study, therefore, assessed the water quality of River Benue in Makurdi, Nigeria to ascertain its suitability for human consumption vis-à-vis the health of aquatic organisms. Water samples were collected in four distinct stations to evaluate the contents of pH, temperature, total hardness CaCO3 (TH), electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate (NO–3), fluoride ion (F–), nitrite (NO–2), ammonia (NH+3), sodium (Na+) and magnesium (Mg2+) using standard methods. Statistical analysis of the laboratory results shows that the highest values of TDS (470.03±9.24 mg/L), TSS (673.03±7.96 mg/L), turbidity (496.60±4.90 NTU), TH (52.02±0.03 mg/L), NO–3 (5.80±2.90 mg/L), Mg2+ (40.96±7.33 mg/L), Na+ (79.18±10.8 mg/L), NH–3 (3.49±0.95 mg/L) and NO-2 (52.36±5.5 mg/L) were recorded in water samples collected at the major storm drain station while the highest values of pH ((9.18±0.09), EC (24.76±8.00 µs/cm), BOD5 (43.13±1.29 mg/L) and COD (1174.08±28.79 mg/L) were recorded at the Wurukun abattoir station. The highest value of DO (14.31±1.60 mg/L) was recorded in the control area. The values of physicochemical parameters tested in this study were within the permissible limits recommended by WHO and FMEnv except for TSS, pH, turbidity, temperature, fluoride, BOD5 and COD. Consequently, periodic monitoring of the water quality of River Benue is vital to ascertain its suitability for human consumption, irrigation agriculture and the safety of aquatic life.
