ABSTRACT

Studies on the physicochemical parameter of Ohiya River Umuahia was conducted from first week of July to the last week of September 2010. Three sampling sites were chosen which are site A upstream of the Ohiya river, the second site is at the middle of the river that is more shallow than the first site, the third site is under the Ohiya Ahie bridge down to Imo river. Samples were collected from each of the sites and analyzed for Physciochemical parameters. The values of physical and chemical parameters analyzed showed that the temperature range from 27.4°C to 30.61°C with a mean value of 29.96 ± 0.16 at the three sites A, B, C. Transparency ranged from 0.11cm to 0.19cm with the mean value of 0.14 ± 0.00. The pH ranges from 6.0 to 8.5 with the mean value of 6.52 to 0.00. The dissolved oxygen range from 3.70 to 12.37mg/l, with the mean of 8.39 + 0.01 at the three sites respectively. The biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 2.60 to 5.42 mg/i, with a mean value of 4.51 ± 0.01. Total hardness ranged from 15.94 to 55.72 with a mean value of 30.65 0.04, the conductivity ranged from 23.61cm to 32.61 with a mean value of 28.31 ± 0.01, and alkalinity ranged from 23.652 to 32.82 with a mean of 28.32 ±0.03 at the three sites A, B,C. The results obtained from the analysis of variances (ANOVA) showed that the following physiochemical parameters temperature, pH and the biochemical oxygen demand values were not significantly different (p> 0.05). From the result obtained, more research should be carried out on the vast expense of Ohiya River to monitor its productivity level.