Assessment of Water Quality of River Niger Basin during the Dry Season
This study assessed water quality of River Niger Basin during the dry Season. It examines the environmental dynamics of aquatic ecosystems across upstream, midstream, and downstream locations during the dry season. In assessing water quality, a total of seventeen (17) parameters were analyzed in the laboratory of the Federal University of Technology (FUTMINNA), Department of Chemistry. Notably uniform temperature readings (29.6-29.7°C) indicate a stable environment, fostering aquatic life. Turbidity levels showed a slight increase in midstream, possibly indicating particulate matter accumulation, followed by a slight decrease downstream. Water color intensification suggests elevated dissolved organic matter levels, potentially linked to pollution. While dissolved oxygen levels increased downstream, indicating a thriving ecosystem, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) concentrations also rose, suggesting heightened organic pollution and respiration. An increase in pH hinted at changes in water chemistry, potentially due to organic matter breakdown. Conversely, alkalinity and hardness declined downstream, highlighting vulnerabilities in chemical buffering and mineral availability for aquatic organisms. The variations in nitrogen compounds, including elevated ammonia upstream and shifting nitrite and nitrate levels, suggest complex ecological interrelations, with phosphorus levels decreasing downstream due to effective biological uptake. H2S levels fluctuated with water conditions, portraying varying aerobic and anaerobic states. Ultimately, results suggest nutrient increases and organic pollution indicators downstream, likely influenced by human activities, highlighting significant ecological implications for water quality and ecosystem health. Initiatives aimed at reducing agricultural runoff, improving waste management systems, and restoring natural habitats can significantly improve water quality of River Niger Basin of Nigeria.
Keywords: Assessment, Basin, Dry Season, Quality, River, Water
