EFFECT OF WASTE DUMPS ON STREAM WATER QUALITY: A CASE STUDY OF UBEYI STREAM IN UNWANA, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of waste dumps on stream water quality in Unwana community, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from five (5) sampling points during the dry season (January-March 2024) from the upstream control of the stream, middle stream point and two (2) points downstream of the Ubeyi stream. The five (5) samples, were taken within (25 meters) between each sampling point with traces of waste dumped at the banks of both sides of the stream. In carrying out of the research physical-chemical and biological properties of the stream water were tested in laboratory. Pollutants such as Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Dissolved Solids, Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Chloride, Total Hardness, Temperature, pH, Zinc, Lead, Cadmium, Total Coliform count, Escherichia Coil, Electrical conductivity, Nitrate and Total hardness were analysed. From the findings of the research it was discovered that most of the sampling points in the study area close to the solid waste dumps have high levels of concentrate of pollutants of both physico-chemical and heavy metal at different sampling points. From the upstream control, prevalent at the middle point of the stream and lesser at the downstream points. The results of the study showed that the upstream water was slightly Alkaline with comparatively low levels of Dissolved Oxygen (D O) content ranged from 1.22-3.66ppm, and low concentration of other parameters. The water after receiving the solid waste and effluents of various points such as the middle and downstream points were slightly Alkaline with higher levels of other parameters when compared with upstream points. The minimum and maximum values of pH, EC, TDS, DO, and BOD were 7.24-7.61, 1.01-1.55 Us/cm,239-1349ppm, 1.22-3.66 respectively. The continuous dumping of waste materials resulted in a marked increase in the concentrations of metals in the water. The metals varied in the order of Fe>pb>Zn>Cd. The results obtained from the laboratory test of the selected parameters tested revealed that there is significant difference between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria Agency For Food and Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC) standard for portable water and the obtained values with an implicative result that the water from the Ubeyi stream is not safe for direct consumption. Thus, such water should be treated by employing some measures such as the use of disinfectants or boiling before use which will help reduce the pollutants, but majorly an improved water supply to the study area will go along way to correct the unhealthy condition and in addition, provision of an effective dump side far away from the stream and creation of awareness of the effects of solid dumped in the streams will help reduce the adverse effects of the health of the people as pollution and contamination cause outbreak of water-borne diseases.

KEYWORDS: WASTE, DUMP, STREAM, WATER-QUALITY, UNWANA, UBEYI.