Full Length Research Paper

Effects of effluent discharge of Kaduna refinery on the water quality of river Romi

*Vivan Ezra Lekwot¹, Adamu Ibrahim Caleb² and Ayuba Kuriwa Ndahi²

¹Department of Geography and Planning University of Jos, Jos Nigeria.

²Division of Land and Water National Water Resources Institute Mando, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: +2348032880342, +2348097601269

Received 15 February, 2012; Accepted 02 March, 2012

The study analyzed the effect of Kaduna refinery effluent discharge on River Romi. The study was carried out in two years (2010-2011: samples were collected in the rainy and dry seasons and a range of water quality parameters were measured in the river. The level of total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, dissolved oxygen ( DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), oil and grease, temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, hardness, benzene, cyanide, mercury and cadmium in the water sample were quite high. With the exception of pH and oil and grease, all other physico-chemical parameters measured are between 100% and 120% higher and have exceeded the maximum permissible limit given by the National Standard Water Quality (Nigeria) and World Health Organization (WHO). Presence of some of these pollutants, at various points along River Romi, was observed and level of these pollutants at varying degrees was found. Since the treatment given to the raw water is disinfection alone, there is tendency of these pollutants to persist in the water and its uptake may cause long term health problems as well as have effects on plants when used for irrigation.

Keywords: Effluent Discharge, Parameters, Refinery, River Romi, Pollutants.