Analytical Evaluation of Ava River Quality for Domestic Purposes

Abstract

Since declining water quality has the potential to significantly alter the hydrological cycle, it has become a worldwide concern. In the last ten years, human activity has had a remarkable impact on the environment due to an unprecedented rise in population, a rapid rate of urbanization, intensification and expansion of agricultural practices and other factors. These factors have resulted in the progressive and ongoing degradation of resources, particularly surface water. In this research study, Ava River Quality was analyzed due to the continuous application of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides for crop production and management at the Green Land Vegetable Farm Cluster of Ugboezeji, Abakpa Nike Enugu East LGA stream segment. The continuous application has been found to impact positively on crop quality and yield, but negatively on the quality of water at the downstream segment of the irrigation areas. Biological oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate, copper and cadmium levels in the water samples analyzed at the downstream segment exceeded the maximum acceptable limit of World Health Organization (2011). It was observed that the amount of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides applied by the farmers are quite higher than the quantity required for optimum yields, but inappropriate techniques and timing of application resulted in the occurrence of excess chemicals being flushed into the Ava River. Therefore, it is important to apply strict regulatory strategies and measures in order to safeguard the water body from pollution caused by unfavorable anthropogenic activities, as climate change poses a threat to the preservation of the water bodies' quality for agricultural and residential purposes.