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Impacts Assessment of Coastal Activities on Water Quality of Upper Segment of Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, South-South, Nigeria
JONAH, UE; IWOK, ES & HANSON, HE
Abstract
A study was carried out at the supper segment of Qua Iboe River from November, 2018 to August,
2019 in four sampling stations to assess the impacts of coastal activities on water quality. Water samples were
collected monthly and analyzed using standard procedures of Associations of Official Analytical Chemist and
American Public Health Association. The stations comparisons and location of significant differences were carried
out using ANOVA and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test, while paired sample t-test were employed to
compare the seasonal difference. The mean ranged values of water temperature were (25.03 – 25.330C), pH (5.8 –
6.6 mg/l), DO(3.11 - 5.45 mg/l), TDS (18.63 – 32.53mg/l), EC (8.33-13.16μs/cm), Turbidity (7.61 – 18.32 NTU),
TSS (90.80 - 165.63 mg/L), NO3-1
(33.02 – 78.33mg/l), P043-(4.44 – 7.39mg/l), Cl-(43.60 – 63.21mg/l), COD(35.96
– 113.05mg/l), NH3(0.33 – 0.62 mg/l). Mean values of TSS, EC, TSS, NO3, PO43-, NH3 and turbidity were higher in
wet season, while water temperature, pH, DO, Cl- and COD values obtained were higher in dry season. Spatial
variations in parameters were ascribed to levels of anthropogenic activities and wastes discharged within the stations;
the seasonal variations were emanated from influx of wastes, and dilution as result of surface run-offs during wet
season. Based on the findings, the WQI values were poor for human consumption; especially from station 2 to
4.These calls for urgent attention by Federal / State Ministry Health and Environment regards to its effects on human
health and consistent water quality monitoring should be put into consideration.
Keywords
Impact; Assessment; Coastal activities; Water Quality; Qua Iboe River
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