Wastewater

Engineering

Ecology

Aerospace engineering

Biology

Pollution

Geotechnical engineering

Turbidity

Total suspended solids

Water quality

Geology

Oceanography

Environmental engineering

Organic chemistry

Hydrology (agriculture)

Environmental chemistry

Total dissolved solids

Environmental science

Suspended solids

Chemistry

Delta

Chemical oxygen demand

Niger delta

Biochemical oxygen demand

Nitrate

Applied Water Science

In this study, some physicochemical properties, concentrations of metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn), and the overall water quality from Bomadi Creek in the Niger Delta of Nigeria were assessed over two seasons. Water samples were collected from designated areas along the course of the river and were prepared for analysis by standard procedures. The ranges of the mean values for some water quality indicators were found to be as follows: pH: 7.40–8.17, turbidity (NTU): 20.5–42.3, total dissolved solids (mg L −1 ): 27.5–44.7, total suspended solids (mg L −1 ): 34.1–61.7, dissolved oxygen (mg L −1 ): 3.07–6.53, biochemical oxygen demand (mg L −1 ): 0.13–2.77, total hardness (mg L −1 ): 28.3–60.0, and nitrate (mg L −1 ): 0.37–0.92. Only the turbidity values exceeded the permissible limit of 5 NTU. The concentration ranges (mg L −1 ) for the six metal ions determined were: Pb: 0.01–0.02, Cd: 0.01–0.03, Zn: 0.1–0.3, Cu: 0.03–0.07, Fe: 0.6–0.9, and Mn: 0.01–0.05. There were no significant variations in many of the locations between the wet and dry seasons. The comprehensive pollution index values indicated severe pollution of the Creek, with Cd, Fe, and turbidity, identified as the major contributors to the deteriorated water quality. The sources of high loads of Cd, Fe, and turbidity in this river system include discharges from oil production activities, speed boats, illegal bunkering, and domestic waste dumps. Principal component and cluster analysis were used to establish relationships between the various parameters and sites. The risk assessment indicated adverse non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks arising from human consumption of the water. The risk is higher for children than adults. Therefore, the Bomadi water is considered unsuitable for drinking and other domestic purposes, and remediation is required.

Water quality of Bomadi Creek in the Niger Delta of Nigeria: assessment of some physicochemical properties, metal concentrations, and water quality index