EFFECTS OF EFFLUENT DISCHARGE FROM OIL MINING ON THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WARRI RIVER

Abstract

The insatiable passion for oil as a source of energy worldwide has placed enormous pressure on oil
producing communities with consequent high risk of pollution of their soil and water resources. Physicochemical
parameters of Warri River by Ubeji community were assessed in May, 2012 to determine the
effects of effluent discharge from oil mining on the river water quality. Samples were collected upstream
of the discharge point, at the discharge point and downstream of the discharge point. The parameters were
analysed using standard methods. The mean values of the parameters obtained were 44.70, 78.86, 5.38,
766.7, 12.33, 0.04 and 100.56 mg/L for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Oil and grease, Nitrate, Chemical
Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Lead and Sodium, respectively. Those of
Electrical Conductivity and Sodium Adsorption Ratio were 0.48 dS/m and 2.29, respectively. Results
showed that values of most of the parameters were above the World Health Organization (WHO)
guidelines for drinking water quality. Therefore, the water cannot be consumed without treatment.
Though the quality of the water may depress aquatic development, it satisfied the criteria for irrigation.