Evaluation of River Okura's physico-chemical parameters: Implications for environmental sustainability in Dekina local government area, Kogi state, Nigeria.

River Okura is an important water resource in Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria, supporting various human activities, including fishing, recreation, irrigation, and source of domestic water supply. However, the river's water quality is under threat from anthropogenic activities, such as domestic waste disposal, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluent. Due to the anthropogenic activities around Okura River, there is need for continuous monitoring of the physico-chemical parameters. The objective of the study therefore, was to evaluate the physico-chemical parameters of River Okura and assess its environmental sustainability. Water samples were taken twice monthly from the month of August, 2019 to January 2020, alternatively morning and evening. Three months of rainy season and three months of dry season. The water samples for the four locations were analyzed for temperature, pH, water transparency/turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, phosphate/phosphorus and sulphate using standard methods. During the course of the research work, it was observed that the temperature ranges between 24.05-25.50 while the overall average pH value of 6.16, the average turbidity ranges between 141.44cm to 152.21cm. The dissolved oxygen of Okura River overall average level was 6.52mg/l, the average monthly sulphate ranges from 0.77mg/l to 7.65mg/l while the average phosphate level ranged between 0.76 to 5.89mg/l. This study revealed the impact of anthropogenic activities on Okura River, Kogi State. This was revealed by the physico-chemical parameters observed during the period of the study. Although the parameters measured were within the safe limits for fish growth, however, there is a gradual decline in the water quality and hence the need for a continuous pollution monitoring program of the river to prevent overload.

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Primary Presenter: Efe Ogidiaka-Obende, University of Delta, Agbor (efeogis@yahoo.com)

Authors:

Efe Ogidiaka-Obende, University of Delta  (efeogis@yahoo.com)