Water Quality Assessment of Abayi Mbasa River Water, Abia State, Nigeria.

Water is very essential for man and, it is being increasingly stressed through the action of man leading to either a temporary or permanent impairment of water quality. Water quality assessment study was done on Abayi Mbasa River in Ugwunagbo LGA of Abia State. The study aimed at assessing the quality of the river water with a view to knowing its suitability and wholesomeness for human use especially at the domestic level. Samples were collected at three points, A, B and C, representing points of Sand dredging, Domestic human activities and Downstream respectively, and analysed for physico-chemical, and biological properties. Results show that there were variations in the water quality properties between the three sampled points. The temperature varied between 31°C and 32°C and was higher at the sand dredging point. The PH varied between 5.33 and 5.77 while the turbidity was in the range of 7.14 (downstream) to 15.07 NTU. Electrical conductivity, total solids and soluble solids were high and above the acceptable limits by WHO and FEMnv. Chemical properties show hardness ranged from 27.13 to 34.77. The levels of elementals in the water were mostly within acceptable limit whereby calcium was between 19.23 and 24.17, magnesium 4.40 to 8.10, iron 1.42 to 3.15mg/l. Lead was higher the limits with levels of 0.13 mg/l while arsenic fall with the limit being less than 0.05mg/l. The radicals NO3, SO4 and PO4 were all within the acceptable limit. The biological and microbiological quality properties shared variations in which the BOD and was from 4.10 to 4.73mg/L, COD was from 32.27 to 40.80mg/L. The total viable count of bacteria was between 26.67 to 32.67 x 107 Cfu/ml while the most probable number of coliforms was between 2.67 to 6.33 MPN /100l. There were seven bacteria species were isolated and identified as being prevalent with Proteus, Bacillus, staphylococcus and pseudomonas had 100% occurrence while the others, salmonella, E. coli and streptococcus species varied between 33.3% and 66.7% occurrence. In general, the water quality was found to be less suitable for drinking, and it is recommended that the water requires decontamination to meet water safety standard and setting up of water treatment plant to ensure good quality water supply to the people. Sand dredging activities also should be regulated.