Assessment of the physico-chemical quality of Uturu section of Aku river in southeastern Nigeria

The physicochemical monitoring of water quality is very key both to aquatic life and public health. To date little is known about the water quality downstream of Aku river, located in Uturu, Isuikwato local government area of Abia state. Therefore the aim of the study is to determine the water quality downstream of Aku river in terms of several physicochemical parameters and heavy metals analysis to ascertain the water quality properties and reveal pollution problems. Samples were collected at 15m, 30m, 45m, 60m, 75m, 90m and 105m interval downstream for both seasons. Results of the study shows that temperature, conductivity, hardness, salinity, Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity, pH, Dissolve Oxygen (DO), chlorine, nitrate, lead, iron, arsenic, copper and zinc, were ranged: 24.190C-26.500C, 165.18-275.46μs/cm, 100.26-139.11mg/L, 520.15-815.24ppt, 380.52-710.08mg/L, 15.12-30.68mg/L, 0.32-1.73NTU, 6.6-7.9, 6.21-11.63mg/L, 1.14-3.30mg/L, 65.01-128.05mg/L, 35.53-58.00mg/L, 0.0002-0.007ppm, 0.02-0.15ppm, 0.002-0.006ppm, 0.44-1.03ppm and 0.1-0.27ppm respectively. The presence of TDS, TSS, turbidity and nitrate above World Health Organization (WHO) tolerance limits, confirmed the presence of contaminants in the water body, and hence not suitable for drinking and thus poses a potential threat to aquatic life.