Assessment of Water Quality of Odor River, Anambra State

Aim: This study examined the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of Odor River in Orumba North, Anambra State. The parameters considered were pH, turbidity, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Alkalinity, total hardness, Sulphate ( ), Chloride, Calcium ( ) hardness, Magnesium ( ) hardness, Iron (Fe), Nitrate (NO3-), Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The objectives of the study were to assess the similarities that exist amongst the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of Odor River in Orumba North, Anambra State. Also, to test whether water from Odor river is safe for drinking by the people of Orumba North and its environs.

Methodology: The Cluster analysis and the one-sample T-test method were used to analyze the data obtained for this study.

Results: The findings of the study revealed that the parameters can be grouped in two groups as follows: group A consists of pH, turbidity, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Alkalinity, total hardness, Sulphate ( ), Chloride, Calcium ( ) hardness, Magnesium ( ) hardness, Iron (Fe), Nitrate (NO3-), and Conductivity while group B consists of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total coliform and E.coli. The physicochemical parameters were found to impact significantly on the variation of the water quality at 5% significant level and their measures did not exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. Further findings revealed that the bacteriological parameters such as the Escherichia Coli and Total Coliform do not significantly impact on the water quality variation of the river and their measures do not exceed the WHO standard.

Conclusion: The physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of Odor River were found to be within the WHO Standard. However, the physicochemical parameters were found to impact on the water quality variation of the river while the bacteriological parameters do not impact on the variation of the water quality of the river. The implication of the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters not exceeding the WHO standard indicates no risk for the users of the river. Hence, water from Odor River is safe for human consumption and agricultural purposes.