Assessment of the Impact of Effluent Discharges on the Quality of Aba River South Eastern Nigeria

The study assessed the impact of effluent discharges on the quality of Aba River South Eastern Nigeria. Twenty two water samples were collected at discharge points of the following industries; Nigerian Breweries, 7Up bottling Co, PZ Industries, Starline and Abattoir. Standard methods were adopted for field and laboratory analysis of samples collected upstream and downstream. The parameters analyzed include; Potassium, Sodium, Nitrate, Phosphates, Sulphates, Bicarbonates, Conductivity, pH, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Turbidity, Chloride, Alkalinity, BOD, Total dissolved solids, COD, Total hardness, Total suspended solids. Comparison of results obtained with WHO standard showed that Nitrates at PZ Industry and Abattoir recorded values of 47.4Mg/l and 55.22Mg/l respectively which exceeded WHO value of 10; Turbidity values of 43.33NTU at Abattoir was higher than the WHO limit of 29, BOD values of 12.87Mg/l and 14.86Mg/l at 7UP and Starline Industries also exceeded the range of 4-7 by WHO. However, other parameters analyzed were lower or within WHO limits. The value of pollution index is 1.317 which indicates that the river is moderately polluted. The source of pollution is attributable to industrial and abattoir activities whose effluent discharges impact the quality of Aba River. The River can therefore not be used in its present form for any domestic purpose without treatments. Periodic monitoring of the river and introduction of cost-effective methods of production technologies, such as, on-site waste separation and reduction; and effluent recycling methods are recommended.