Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the impact of biological treated effluent on the physico-chemical properties of receiving waterbodies and also to establish its suitability for other purposes. It focused on the changes of some physic-chemical variables as one move away from the point of discharge downstream of the waterbodies. Water samples were collected from 14 sampling stations made up of the untreated effluent, treated effluent and receiving streams (before and after treated effluent discharge) over a period of 6 months spanning the dry and rainy seasons. Analyses were carried out on the following: temperature, turbidity, pH, conductivity, major anions and cation, dissolved oxygen, percentage oxygen Saturation, biological oxygen demand (BOD), solids (total solids, suspended solids and dissolved solids), nitrates, phosphates, organic matter and flow discharge using standard analytical methods. The relationships between investigated sites with regards to their physico-chemical properties were analyzed using student-t statistics. Also changes in the treated effluent receiving streams after treated effluent outfall was discussed fully. The physico-chemical water quality of the receiving water bodies meets most of the general water requirements for both domestic and industrial uses. The untreated effluent quality was shown to be of biological origin based on the biological oxygen demand, chloride, dissolved oxygen, total solids, pH and organic matter. The treated effluent showed significant improvement over the raw untreated effluent based on most parameters assessed. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the physico-chemical quality of untreated effluent and the treated effluent for the most of the investigated physico-chemical quality. The difference between the discharged treated effluent and the unimpacted section of the receiving waterbodies was also significant (p<0.05) for the most of the physico-chemical parameters.
Highlights
The physico-chemical water quality of the receiving water bodies meets most of the general water requirements for both domestic and industrial uses
The untreated effluent quality was shown to be of biological origin based on the biological oxygen demand, chloride, dissolved oxygen, total solids, pH and organic matter
The treated effluent showed significant improvement over the raw untreated effluent based on some the parameters assessed
Summary
The problem of waste generation and management in developing countries is a major concern to government and has become worrisome in Nigeria in recent times due to increase in population with its attendant socio-economic factors (Butu and Mshelia, 2014). Omole and Alakinde (2013), Abila and Kantola (2013) and Kadafa et al (2013) are of the view that waste management problems in Nigeria cut across human health, air, water and land pollution. Miller (1994) defines waste as man’s unwanted materials that need to be discarded; while Ogedengbe (1990) defines wastewater (a subset of waste) as any water which has been rendered unfit for intended purposes due to various forms of use and abuse. Omole and Alakinde (2013), Abila and Kantola (2013) and Kadafa et al (2013) are of the view that waste management problems in Nigeria cut across human health, air, water and land pollution. The term wastewater covers broadly domestic and industrial liquid wastes as well as storm run-off. When untreated wastewater is discharge into public drains, they go on to pollute nearby water sources by exerting oxygen demand in the water and causing prolific aquatic growth or depositing toxic substances into water course. All these lead to harming of aquatic life. This in turn will affect both the quality of the water as well as the www.ccsenet.org/jsd
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