TITLE:
Analyses of Physical and Chemical Parameters in Surface Waters nearby a Cement Factory in North Central, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Francis K. Meme, Francis O. Arimoro, Francis O. Nwadukwe
KEYWORDS:
Cement, Oinyi River, Water Quality, Pollution, Discharge Point
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.10,
July
24,
2014
ABSTRACT: Water samples were collected from three stations along the water course
of Oinyi River, Kogi State, Nigeria, bi-monthly for 12 months (October 2010 to
September 2011). A total of 16 physical
and chemical parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen
demand, chemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, flow velocity, depth,
nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia, pH, turbidity, total suspended solids,
total dissolved solids and colour) were analyzed and results showed that pH
(6.8 to 7.26), conductivity (106.0 to 211.7 μS/cm), colour (3.87 ± 0.159 Pt.Co),
turbidity (14 - 22.7 NTU), total suspended solids (45 - 54 mg/l), biochemical
oxygen demand (2.05 - 2.89 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (17.19 ± 0.15 mg/l),
temperature (24°C to 27°C) and depth (0.23 to 0.35 m) were significantly
different across the different stations and between the months. However, total
dissolved solids (52.7 to 108.8 mg/l), dissolved oxygen (6.02 to 7.01 mg/l),
ammonia (0.00 to 0.02 mg·l-1), nitrite (0.01 - 0.09 mg·l-1),
nitrate (0.045 ± 0.006 mg·l-1), phosphate (0.2 to 2.05 mg·l-1)
and flow velocity (0.1 to 0.35 m·s-1) showed variations within the
sampling stations. Maximum conductivity (211.7 μS/cm), colour (5.83 Pt.Co),
turbidity (22.7 NTU), total suspended solids (54 mg/l), total dissolved solids
(108.8 mg/l), nitrite (0.09 mg/l) and nitrate (0.006 mg/l) values were recorded
at station 2 which is the discharge
point of industrial waste. River water did show significant pollutional increase
at the effluent impacted site during the present study. Dissolved oxygen showed
direct relation with temperature, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen
demand. The non-stop and continuous discharges of cement waste water
into the river lessened water quality with significant or corresponding effect
on the biota of the studied area, thus paving way for clear assertion that the
water quality deterioration was as a result of the impacts of the waste water
from cement industry.