ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF SURFACE WATER RESOURCES OF KOLO CREEK AND ENVIRONS, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA, USING WATER QUALITY INDEX AND MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.

Abstract

The assessment of quality of surface water resources of kolo creek and environs , Niger Delta, Nigeria using water quality index and multivariate statistical analysis with the aim of determining concentrations and pollution status of physical, heavy metals, and organic pollutants in the Surface Water was successfully done. The concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) and organic pollutants of concern (TPH, PAH, and BTEX) in the surface water resources of Kolo Creek were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and gas chromatography, respectively. The TPH, PAH, and BTEX content in surface was assessed by randomly collecting samples from nine (9) sampling points and a (1) control point. The entire value of parameters in surface are within WHO standards for drinking water except pH which are low (Slightly acidic) and TPH, PAH, and BTEX that far exceed WHO standard. The multivariate statistical analyses for hydro geochemical data identified five (5) significant Principal Components;  PC1, 63.64% had loadings, all are positive (Cu, Cr, pH, Pb, Mg,TPH,HC03, Betex, Hg, Ca, Fe, Zn, DS and K), PC2, 36.36% of the variables had loadings; Betex, N03, Na, Al, Fe and Zn are positive (22.72%), while S04, Cl and EC had negative loading (13.64%). PC3, 13.64% of the variables had loading, all the variables had positive loadings for TPH, DS and PAH. PC4, 9.09% of the variables had loading, 4.5% of the variables had positive loadings for PAH while K had negative loading of 4.5%. PC5 4.5% of the variables had loading, all of the variables had positive loadings for Cd. HCA suggested that the pollutants accumulated mainly through two sources as two coherent clusters were formed for the parameters in surface water samples. Correlation matrix analysis observed strong correlations in the majority of the parameters; implying that the surface water had their pollution from the same sources. The Contamination Factor results for surface water reveal that HCO3, NO3, Na, Mg, S04, Ca and Cl were comparatively low, all with values less than 1 while Fe has 9.1 (high concentration) with value > 6 respectively. Similarly, the results from the PLI reveal that the total PI values of surface water in the area were less than one, indicating no pollution. WQI showed that all surface samples are (100%) unsuitable for use in industry, irrigation, or drinking. The suitability for irrigation analysis of surface water samples reveal that SAR, SSP, MH in the entire study area were 100% suitable and fit for irrigation purposes, while %Na had 100% of the samples unsafe and KR 100% unsuitable. The Wilcox plot shows that 100% of the entire samples in the study area belong to the excellent category.