USING WATER QUALITY INDEX AND PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF THE ETHIOPE RIVER, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The surface water quality of Ethiope River was investigated from January 2016 and December 2017. Five stations were sampled from upstream to downstream (Umuaja, Umutu, Obiaruku, Abraka and Eku). Results obtained were analysed using standard methods to determine suitable water quality. A total of thirty-four physico-chemical parameters were analysed and used to obtain the WQI of the surface water using a weighted arithmetic index method across the five designated stations. The results revealed that the mean of the physico-chemical parameters of the surface water were significantly different (P > 0.05), except for air temperature, flow rate, pH, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, potassium, magnesium, ammonium, nitrate nickel, lead, vanadium and total hydrocarbon. Data obtained were compared with the WHO benchmark or standard. The water quality index (WQI) clearly showed that the status (>100) whose mean values were 129.41, 137.03, 173.61, 147.86 and 112.70 revealed that all the stations were affected. The results of this study revealed that the river water is unfit for consumption. This research showed the relevance of WQI and PCA in assessing complex data series of water quality and recommends an effective enforcement of environmental laws by Federal Ministry of Environment on the indiscriminate dumping of sewage, refuse and agriculture effluent
discharges in the river. Regular and sustained monitoring is imperative to mitigate ecological and health hazards