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Study on the Effects of Hydraulic Dredging and Disposal Operations on Water Quality of Nworie River, South-Eastern Nigeria

Received: 28 January 2016     Accepted: 12 September 2016     Published: 11 March 2017
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Abstract

A study was done to ascertain the effect of hydraulic dredging and spoils disposal on the physicochemical parameters of Nworie River. The study was carried out from July 2010 to January, 2012. Water samples were collected prior to, during and monitored several months after dredging. The samples were collected from 5 stations: station 1 was the dredging point, stations 2 and 3 were 250m and 500m upstream of the point, while and stations 4 and 5 were 250m and 500m downstream of it respectively. The physicochemical parameters of the water were analysed prior to dredging and most of the values obtained were within acceptable limit of established water standards. The pH was within the range of 6.5-7.8, Temperature 27.6-29.9°C, Conductivity 34-196µs/cm, Turbidity 0-76NTU, TDS 22.1-127.4 mg/l, TSS 9-51 mg/l, Nitrate 1.2- 33.6mg/l, Phosphate 0.2-3.7mg/l, Sulphate 0- 33 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen 4.3-9.4 mg/L and BOD5 2.5 - 7.9 mg/l. During the dredging, the water physicochemistry changed: pH values decreased drastically to 4.6, DO to 1.3mg/l, Nitrate to 1.2 mg/l. Temperature increased to 30. 2°C, Turbidity 620NTU, TSS 349mg/L, Conductivity 498µs/cm, TDS 249 mg/l, BOD5 19.1mg/l, Sulphate 33mg/l and Phosphate was 0.92mg/l. Three months after the dredging, the values for the parameters returned to their pre-dredging concentrations, however during rainy season, as the leachates and silts from the spoils were washed into the river, this prolonged the recovery of the river system to 9 months. This implies that the effect of dredging on the river is of short term but the disposal of the excavated materials at the river bank compounded and prolonged these impacts.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12
Page(s) 25-31
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hydraulic, Dredging, Disposal Operations, Quality, Physiochemical, Nworie River

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Justina Ugochi Udensi, Toochukwu Ekwutosi Ogbulie, Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma, Nkeiruka Uche Chikezie, Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson, et al. (2017). Study on the Effects of Hydraulic Dredging and Disposal Operations on Water Quality of Nworie River, South-Eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 5(2), 25-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12

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    ACS Style

    Justina Ugochi Udensi; Toochukwu Ekwutosi Ogbulie; Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma; Nkeiruka Uche Chikezie; Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson, et al. Study on the Effects of Hydraulic Dredging and Disposal Operations on Water Quality of Nworie River, South-Eastern Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2017, 5(2), 25-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12

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    AMA Style

    Justina Ugochi Udensi, Toochukwu Ekwutosi Ogbulie, Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma, Nkeiruka Uche Chikezie, Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson, et al. Study on the Effects of Hydraulic Dredging and Disposal Operations on Water Quality of Nworie River, South-Eastern Nigeria. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2017;5(2):25-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12,
      author = {Justina Ugochi Udensi and Toochukwu Ekwutosi Ogbulie and Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma and Nkeiruka Uche Chikezie and Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson and Awurum Ivy Nwaku and Ifeyinwa Celestina Mgbemena},
      title = {Study on the Effects of Hydraulic Dredging and Disposal Operations on Water Quality of Nworie River, South-Eastern Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {25-31},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20170502.12},
      abstract = {A study was done to ascertain the effect of hydraulic dredging and spoils disposal on the physicochemical parameters of Nworie River. The study was carried out from July 2010 to January, 2012. Water samples were collected prior to, during and monitored several months after dredging. The samples were collected from 5 stations: station 1 was the dredging point, stations 2 and 3 were 250m and 500m upstream of the point, while and stations 4 and 5 were 250m and 500m downstream of it respectively. The physicochemical parameters of the water were analysed prior to dredging and most of the values obtained were within acceptable limit of established water standards. The pH was within the range of 6.5-7.8, Temperature 27.6-29.9°C, Conductivity 34-196µs/cm, Turbidity 0-76NTU, TDS 22.1-127.4 mg/l, TSS 9-51 mg/l, Nitrate 1.2- 33.6mg/l, Phosphate 0.2-3.7mg/l, Sulphate 0- 33 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen 4.3-9.4 mg/L and BOD5 2.5 - 7.9 mg/l. During the dredging, the water physicochemistry changed: pH values decreased drastically to 4.6, DO to 1.3mg/l, Nitrate to 1.2 mg/l. Temperature increased to 30. 2°C, Turbidity 620NTU, TSS 349mg/L, Conductivity 498µs/cm, TDS 249 mg/l, BOD5 19.1mg/l, Sulphate 33mg/l and Phosphate was 0.92mg/l. Three months after the dredging, the values for the parameters returned to their pre-dredging concentrations, however during rainy season, as the leachates and silts from the spoils were washed into the river, this prolonged the recovery of the river system to 9 months. This implies that the effect of dredging on the river is of short term but the disposal of the excavated materials at the river bank compounded and prolonged these impacts.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    AU  - Justina Ugochi Udensi
    AU  - Toochukwu Ekwutosi Ogbulie
    AU  - Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma
    AU  - Nkeiruka Uche Chikezie
    AU  - Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson
    AU  - Awurum Ivy Nwaku
    AU  - Ifeyinwa Celestina Mgbemena
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 25
    EP  - 31
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20170502.12
    AB  - A study was done to ascertain the effect of hydraulic dredging and spoils disposal on the physicochemical parameters of Nworie River. The study was carried out from July 2010 to January, 2012. Water samples were collected prior to, during and monitored several months after dredging. The samples were collected from 5 stations: station 1 was the dredging point, stations 2 and 3 were 250m and 500m upstream of the point, while and stations 4 and 5 were 250m and 500m downstream of it respectively. The physicochemical parameters of the water were analysed prior to dredging and most of the values obtained were within acceptable limit of established water standards. The pH was within the range of 6.5-7.8, Temperature 27.6-29.9°C, Conductivity 34-196µs/cm, Turbidity 0-76NTU, TDS 22.1-127.4 mg/l, TSS 9-51 mg/l, Nitrate 1.2- 33.6mg/l, Phosphate 0.2-3.7mg/l, Sulphate 0- 33 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen 4.3-9.4 mg/L and BOD5 2.5 - 7.9 mg/l. During the dredging, the water physicochemistry changed: pH values decreased drastically to 4.6, DO to 1.3mg/l, Nitrate to 1.2 mg/l. Temperature increased to 30. 2°C, Turbidity 620NTU, TSS 349mg/L, Conductivity 498µs/cm, TDS 249 mg/l, BOD5 19.1mg/l, Sulphate 33mg/l and Phosphate was 0.92mg/l. Three months after the dredging, the values for the parameters returned to their pre-dredging concentrations, however during rainy season, as the leachates and silts from the spoils were washed into the river, this prolonged the recovery of the river system to 9 months. This implies that the effect of dredging on the river is of short term but the disposal of the excavated materials at the river bank compounded and prolonged these impacts.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Biology Department, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Biology Department, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

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