The Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities on Agbarho River, Delta State

The study evaluates the physical, chemical and heavy metal properties of the Agbarho River, Delta State, Nigeria using standard methods for analysis with a view of ascertaining the water quality and establishing the correlation with national and international standards. The analyses revealed the water to be slightly acidic (pH - 5.60±0.31). It also recorded a mean temperature of 26.94 ± 0.45, TDS (70.478 ± 1 mg/L), electrical conductivity (90±1µS/cm), Dissolved Oxygen (4.548 ±0.005mg/L), Biological Oxygen Demand (1.35 ±0.002mg/L), Total Hardness (23.2 ± 0.1mg/L), Sulphate (20.397 ±1.2 mg/L) and Total Alkalinity (24.8 ± 1mg/L). The values were within the permissible limits of WHO and FEPA. On the contrary, Total Suspended Solid (7.09 mg/L), Turbidity (46.8776 ± 1NTU), pH and Dissolve Oxygen were above the permissible limits of the regulatory agencies. On the heavy metals, chromium and lead were not detected in the water body. Similarly, iron with 2.2747 ±0.05 showed a very high concentration above the tolerance limit of WHO and FEPA. The study concluded that there is some level of pollution in the river. Hence, adequate treatment is recommended before it can be used for any purpose.