Impact Of Oil Spillage On The Water Quality Of Abuloma River In Port-Harcourt, Rivers State

ABSTRACT

The activity of the oil prospecting companies in the study area is mainly that of crude oil extraction from the subsurface. As a result of these petroleum activities, there is a continuous destruction of aquatic lives – flora and fauna destabilizing the entire aquatic eco-system. This study was focused on the impact of oil spillage on the water quality. Different physico-chemical parameters were analyzed, including Temperature, Taste, Colour, Odour, Total Dissolved Solid, Conductivity, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Suspended Solid, sulphate, Chloride, Alkalinity, phosphate and some heavy metals such as Lead and Iron. Result obtained showed that the Conductivity and the concentrations of Total Dissolved Solid, Sulphate, Chloride, and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) level all exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Other parameters fall below or within acceptable limits. In effect, the water from Abuloma River is unfit for human consumption. Some control measures such as BAT are recommended to reduce the impact of oil spill on the river for the benefit of rural communities in the area.