Physico-Chemical Studies Of The Lower River Niger, (#43102)

AB ST R ACT

Physico-chcmical analyses of t h e surface waters of the lower reaches of the River Niger were carried out for a per iod of one year ( ~ p r i l1 988 - March 1989) covering both t h e rainy and dry seasons t o e ; t a b l i s h Levels of various pollutants and t o study t h t , contribut ions made by the major t r i b u t a r i e s ~ n udrb an a c t i v i t i e s to the gross pollution level. Cerzain physico-chemical properties such as BOD, COD, o i l and grease, conductivity, total solids, major anit ns 3- - ( ~ ,0 N O~j a nd ~ 1 - )sh owed marked seasonal k a r i a t i o n s , while others such as pH, water hardness and major cations showed minor variations during the yea *. The lev e l s of these pollutants were considered rel: t i v e l y low t o make the River Niger polluted. The contribution by the t r i b u t a r i e s and hman a c t i v i t i e s particuLarly in th e urban c i t i e s on the Niger, contribute signi.'icantly to the pollution l e v e l s of the Niger.