The Effect Of Urban Runoff Water And Human Activities On Some Physico-Chemical Parameters Of The Epie Creek In The Niger Delta

The Epie creek was investigated for six months from five sampling stations to determine the effects of urban runoff and human activities on some physico-chemical parameters. Variations in the physico-chemical parameters were observed from station to station both in the dry and rainy seasons. These variations were attributed to runoff water and human activities in the Epie Creek. Although the levels of most of these physico-chemical parameters were found to be within the safe limits for drinking water, the mean DO levels were generally found to be lower than septic levels and thus unsafe for fish and other aquatic organisms. The chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate and ammonia levels were found to be higher during the rainy season than the dry season, suggesting that runoff water contributed to their levels in the creek. It was also observed that the levels of TDS, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium, potassium, sodium, conductivity, chloride, nitrates, sulphates, ammonia and phosphates in sections of the Epie creek traversing the Yenagoa metropolis were higher than those from the upstream sections. These higher levels were attributed to human activities in the creek. The potential risk associated with the generally low DO levels and the high nutrients have been highlighted. @ JASEM