IMPACT OF EFFLUENT DISCHARGE AND SEASONAL VARIATIONS ON THE QUALITY OF EKEMAZU STREAM IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Water is one of the most fundamental elements which make man and the entire ecosystem exist on this planet earth [۱]. Water is a vital component of the development of an area and as such, human settlement is to a large extent dependent on the availability of reliable sources of water preferably in close proximity to the settled localities [۲]. The availability of drinking water is an indispensable feature for preventing epidemic diseases and improving the quality of life [۳]. Water also plays very important role in many industries such as power plant, food and cosmetics industries, as well as Pharmaceutical industries, hence, its quality is very crucial [۴]. However, these industries and some human activities heighten surface water’s exposure to various kinds of pollution with deleterious chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms [۵]. As such, most ruralvillages in developing countries have poor access to safe clean water supply. Chemicals which cause stream pollution from industries are ammonia, phosphate, hydrocarbon compounds, herbicides and pesticides [۶]. Micro-organisms which cause stream pollution from domestic and industrial activities are mostly coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Shigella and Salmonella species; Viruses such as Hepatitis A virus; Protozoans such as Entamoeba hystolytica, and helminthes such as Ascaris lumbricoides etc [۴].