JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING AND Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 10 (2014), 19-29 APPLIED SCIENCES Surface water quality degradation in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria B.U. Okoro* and +N.E Nwaiwu** Department of Civil Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, * Email: [email protected] (+23408025163719) **Email: [email protected] (+23408025528200) Abstract The study was undertaken to assess the water quality in selected rivers and lake in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria. A total of six surface water sources selected(including Rivers Niger,Eziche,Omambala,Obibia,Okpuno stream and Agulu Lake) were from five Local Government Areas in the State, viz.: Onitsha South, Anambra East, Anaocha, Awka North and Awka South. All the samples were analyzed for parameters which include temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH and six heavy metals, viz., As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn using standard procedures. The results were compared with present National and International (World Health Organisation WHO) standard, the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality NSDWQ (2007). Among the analyzed samples, all samples contained Zinc and Copper within the NSDWQ (2007), although no guideline is set by WHO (2011) for Zinc level in drinking water. Cadmium , Arsenic , Iron and Lead were above the maximum admissible and desirable limits recommended by NSDWQ (2007) and WHO (2011). Microbiological parameters, viz., total coliform, fecal coliform and the total aerobic heterotrophic bacterial count, were all above the maximum admissible and desirable limits recommended by NSDWQ (2007) and WHO (2011) for all the surface water sources selected. This is an indication of pollution hazards in the study areas, which in turn have important human health implications. In general, the results of the present study have shown that the surface water sources need to be treated before consumption. This study, therefore, recommends the government and other responsible authorities to take appropriate corrective measures. Key words: surface water quality, heavy metals, maximum admissible limit, pollution hazards, water quality standards. 1. Introduction have been rendered polluted and hazardous to man and Potable water should be freely accessed by everyone and in other living systems (Bakare et al, 2003). The toxic every community, state and country. This is not the case as substances discharged into water bodies are not only accessibility of water is usually truncated by either accumulated through the food chain but may also either insufficiency or unsuitability. Today 31 countries limit the number of species or produce dense populations of representing 2.8 billion people, including China, India, microorganisms (Odiete, 1999). Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Peru confront chronic water Industrial development (either new or existing industrial problems. Within a generation, the world’s population will expansion) results in the generation of industrial effluents, climb to an estimated 8 billion people yet, the amount of and if untreated results in water, sediment and soil pollution water will remain the same (Bishnoi and Arora, 2007). The (Fakayode, 2005). Also of note is the increasing impact of challenge is as clear and compelling as pristine water sand mining operation on surface water bodies. These cascading down a mountain stream as new and equitable operations not only change the natural aquatic habitat, but ways of saving, using and recycling the water must be degrade river bed, and channel, causes erosion and impact found (Atalay et al., 2008). negatively on the water quality (Lawal, 2011; Phua et al, With increasing urbanisation and industrialization, there has 2004; Gubbay, 2003). been a rapid increase in industrial effluent discharge into Aquatic ecosystems are affected by several stresses that the stream water, leading to increased pollution load. In significantly weaken biodiversity. River pollution is an aquatic eco-systems, trace elements may be immobilized environmental problem in the world. They are subjected to within the stream water and may involve complex various natural processes such as the hydrological cycle formation and co-precipitation as oxides and hydroxides of occurring in the environment. As a result of unprecedented Fe, Mn or may occur in particulate form (Awofolu et al., development, humans are responsible for choking several 2005; Mwiganga and Kansiime, 2005; Srivastava et al., aquatic ecosystems to death. Storm water runoff and 2008, Sabo et al, 2008). sewage disposal into rivers are two common ways that Industrialization and human activities have partially or various nutrients and other pollutants enter the aquatic totally turned the environment into dumping sites for waste ecosystems resulting in pollution (Sudhira and Kumar, materials. As a result, many water resources 2000; Adeyemo, 2003). +corresponding author JEAS ISSN: 1119-8109 20 Okoro and Nwaiwu / Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 10 (2014), 19-29 Most of the rivers in the urban areas of the developing Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn), as well as microbiological countries are the ends of effluents discharged from the contamination of surface water samples from different parts industries. African countries and Asian countries are of Anambra State. experiencing rapid industrial growth and this is making environmental conservation a difficult task (Agarwal and 2. Description of the study area Manish, 2011). The quality of water depends on various Anambra State is drained principally by a number of rivers chemical constituents and their concentration, which are which include River Niger, Anambra River (Omambala mostly derived from the geological data of the particular and Eziche), Idemili and Mamu, Nkisi, Obibia etc. region. Industrial waste and the municipal solid waste have Omambala and Eziche rivers in Otuocha meet at a point emerged as two leading causes of pollution of surface and before inflow to the Niger River. Omambala and Eziche ground water. In many parts of the world available water is rivers lie between (6º21΄N and 6º51΄E) and (6º20΄N and rendered non-potable because of the presence of heavy 6º49΄E) respectively. metal in excess. The situation gets worsened during the Awka, the state capital, covers an area of approximately summer season due to water scarcity and rain water 560square kilometres. Climatologically, records show that discharge. Contamination of water resources available for the mean annual rainfall of the area is about 1524mm with a household and drinking purposes with heavy elements, relative humidity of 80% at dawn with rainfall metal ions and harmful microorganisms is one of the concentrating from April to October. Rivers that drain the serious major health problems. state capital are Haba, Obizi , Obibia, Okpuno (6°14΄N Therefore it is necessary that the quality of drinking water and 7°03΄E),Idemili and Mamu rivers (Muoghalu and be checked at regular time interval, because due to use of Okonkwo, 1998). Obibia river lies between latitude 6º 09΄N contaminated drinking water, human population suffers and 7º 04΄E. from varied forms of water borne diseases. It is difficult to Agulu Lake is a large natural inland water lake located in understand the biological phenomenon fully because the Agulu, Anambra State and serves as a natural boundary chemistry of water reveals much about the metabolism of between Agulu and parts of Nri. Agulu Lake is the largest the ecosystem and explain the general hydro - biological lenthic water body in Anambra. Agulu Lake lies within relationship (Basavaraja et al., 2011). Heavy metals 5°15΄ and 5°55΄N longitude, 7°15΄ and 6°55΄E latitude, has normally occurring in nature are not harmful to our an area of about 16,081m2 and an average depth of about environment because they are only present in very small 5.2m. The deepest area which is about 11.2m is amounts (Sanayei et al., 2009). However, if the levels of permanently stratified. The lake has six arms shaped like a these metals are higher than the recommended limits, their star. The water is clear during the dry season and turbid, roles change to a negative dimension. Human beings can be with a yellowish-brown colouration, during the rainy season exposed to heavy metal ions through direct and indirect (Anibueze ,1988; Egboka et al, 2006). sources like food, drinking water, exposure to industrial There are two main seasons in the state namely the dry activities and traffic (Ghaedi et al., 2005). season( October – March) and the rainy season (April – Very few researches have been conducted on heavy metal September) approximately corresponding to the dry and contamination of surface water in Anambra State. For this flood phase, respectively of the hydrological regime. The reason, due emphasis is given to the analysis of these vegetation is derived guinea savannah (Awachie and contaminants. The main goal of this paper is to determine Ezenwaji, 1981). the levels/concentration of some of the heavy metals (As, JEAS ISSN: 1119-8109 Okoro and Nwaiwu / Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 10 (2014), 19-29 21 ol ol N 6 47 7 00 7ol 12 W E S Ayamelum ol ol 6 31 Anambra West 6 31 O kp u n o R . Eziche River Omambala River Awka North Anambra East 6ol 15 6ol 15 M a m u R iver Njikoka Oyi Anambra River Awka South Onitsha North Dunukofia Obibia River Nkisi River River Niger Orumba North Onitsha South Idemili North U la si La k e A g u lu L a ke Id em ili R iv erIdemili South Anaocha Odo River Ezu River Nnewi North Aguata Orumba South 5ol 59 5ol 59 Ekwusigo Nnewi South Ola Alu R. Ogbaru Key Ihiala Rivers and Lakes Sample collection points Kilometers ol 6 47 7ol 00 ol 7 12 0 5 10 Figure 1: Map showing Anambra State with sampling collection points. 3. Methodology University Awka (within 48 hours of sample Water Sample preparation and analysis collection).The methodologies followed were according to Reimann et al., 2003 and Tuzen and Soylak, 2006.