Assessing the physico-chemical properties of Aleto River, Eleme, Rivers State for fish production

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the Physico-chemical parameters of Aleto River, Rivers State. Monthly data were collected from November 2020 to February 2021. The Physico-chemical parameters were determined using standard ecological analytic procedures. Results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Turkey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post-hoc test at 95% confidence interval to determine the significance of differences in mean values. The results showed upstream, midstream and downstream mean temperatures (27.65±0.6, 28.78±0.58, 29.28 ±0.89), pH (7.59±0.35, 7.28±0.24, 7.4±0.34), total dissolved solids (112.83±74.8, 169.95±181.55, 213.7±168.67), biochemical oxygen demand (1.45±0.22, 0.7±0.33, 2.4±0.53) and salinity (37.93±27.36, 52.79±40.53, 22.62±13.98). These are suitable for fish production. Dissolved oxygen (4.08±0.64 - 5.18±0.05mg/l) was below the permissible limit while electrical conductivity (197.28±150.39 - 483.4±280.44μs/cm) was above the permissible limit of WHO and Federal Ministry of Environment. The study concludes that the river was suitable for fish production and domestic use. However, due to industrial effluent discharge and anthropogenic activities in and around the river, mitigation and regular monitoring of the river are therefore recommended.