ABSTRACT
The effect of point and non-point sources discharge. on the
water quality and riparian vegetation of Aba River was investigated. The
studies on water quality were carried out at six regular sampling stations.
Station I was located upstream beyond all possible source of pollution as
control. Stations 2 — 5 were located downstream as the river traverses the
urban and industrial area,, representing the effluent receiving stations.
Station 6 was located downstream at the outskirt of the town and designated as
attenuated station. Sampling programme and technique were such that spatial and
temporal variations in the physico-chemical factors might be revealed.
Physico-chemical parameters used in assessing water quality such as
temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, BOD5, nutrients and trace metals
etc were investigated. Plant communities adjoining the river were enumerated
and identified from which data on type and abundance of plant species were
collected. The physico-chemical parameters of the effluent receiving stations
were significantly (P < o. o 5) higher than the non-effluent receiving
stations with the exception of pH and dissolved oxygen. All the measured water
quality parameters were significantly (P < 0. 0 5) higher during the rains with
the exception of dissolved oxygen and temperature. Among the water quality
parameters evaluated, pH, turbidity, BOD, lead, Iron, chromium, cadmium and
manganese concentrations exceeded the internationally recommended water quality
criteria for drinking purpose, domestic use and aquatic life. A Principal
Component Analysis employed showed that dissolved solid, cadmium, manganese,
turbidity, and hardness contributed substantially to the discrimination among
the stations as demonstrated on Principal Component 1, whereas pH, suspended
solid, temperature, dominated PC2. A total of six phytoplankton families were
recorded, the blue green alga comprising about 70% of the algal population
especially in the downstream stations. The species diversity ranged from 0.91
to 1.3, and was higher at the non-effluent receiving stations than effluent
receiving stations. Marked differences were observed in the composition and
abundance of plant species occurring in the area studied. The plant species in
the effluent receiving area were mostly members of the hemicrytophyte as
against phanerophyte in the non-effluent receiving area. Species richness
indices showed gradual progression in community stability as the distance from
the effluent receiving area increases. Similarity index showed that the
variation in species composition became wider as the distance between the
communities being compared increase. The study revealed that Aba River is under
pollution stress due to effluents from point and non-point sources discharges.
KALU, M (2021). Studies On Effect Of Point And Non-point Sources Discharge On The Water Quality And Riparian Vegetation Of Aba River. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Oct 12, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/studies-on-effect-of-point-and-non-point-sources-discharge-on-the-water-quality-and-riparian-vegetation-of-aba-river-7-2
MONDAY, KALU. "Studies On Effect Of Point And Non-point Sources Discharge On The Water Quality And Riparian Vegetation Of Aba River" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 14 Oct. 2021, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/studies-on-effect-of-point-and-non-point-sources-discharge-on-the-water-quality-and-riparian-vegetation-of-aba-river-7-2. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
MONDAY, KALU. "Studies On Effect Of Point And Non-point Sources Discharge On The Water Quality And Riparian Vegetation Of Aba River". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 14 Oct. 2021. Web. 12 Oct. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/studies-on-effect-of-point-and-non-point-sources-discharge-on-the-water-quality-and-riparian-vegetation-of-aba-river-7-2 >.
MONDAY, KALU. "Studies On Effect Of Point And Non-point Sources Discharge On The Water Quality And Riparian Vegetation Of Aba River" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2021). Accessed 12 Oct. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/studies-on-effect-of-point-and-non-point-sources-discharge-on-the-water-quality-and-riparian-vegetation-of-aba-river-7-2