Determination of the Seasonal Variation of Physicochemical Characteristics of Brewery Industry Effluent and Receiving Water of Ikpoba-Oha Rivers, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study focuses on the determination of physicochemical parameters of brewery industry effluent and receiving water which serves as a source of drinking water, fishing and irrigation for agricultural purpose to the community. The impact of the effluents from a Brewery industry on the water quality of Ikpoba-Oha River was carried out during wet and dry seasons, 2016.  Water samples from three selected points in the river were analyzed for pH, temperature, total solids, total dissolved solids, Hardness, BOD, COD, DO, Chlorides, phosphates, sulphates.  Samples were collected at three points designated as: point 1 (effluent), point 2 (upstream), and point 3 (downstream).  The results of the analysis of the effluent obtained on both seasons were: pH (5.90-8.38), temperature (25.20^oC-33.15^oC), chlorides (12.0-129.2 mg/l), phosphates (0.9-20.48 mg/l), sulphates (3.30-53.0 mg/l), nitrates (3.8-17.20 mg/l), DO (2.3-4.15mg/l), Total Hardness (12.10-425.6 mg/l), Ca hardness (6.0-296.4 mg/l), Total Solids (44.0-513mg/l), TSS(20-159mg/l) and TDS (24-354 mg/l). The levels of most of the parameters monitored are generally higher at the point of effluent discharged into water bodies and dispersed to less malign conditions downstream due to water dilution effect.