Tidal Effects on Water Quality in the Otuoke River, Using the Weighted Arithmetic Method of Water Quality Index Analysis

Churchill Ebinimitei Simon

doi:10.56201/rjpst.vol.8.no10.2025.pg91.98

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Tidal Effects on Water Quality in the Otuoke River, Using the Weighted Arithmetic Method of Water Quality Index Analysis

Churchill Ebinimitei Simon

Abstract

This study investigated the water quality of the Otuoke River in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, during high and low tides. Like many coastal communities, Otuoke has relied on this river for its water needs. However, the community has not known the river’s quality status, especially during different tidal regimes. This research addressed the pressing question of which season is more viable for communal use. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. It included water quality analysis using standard laboratory methods. Water samples were collected from five locations along the river during both low and high tides. A total of eight parameters were analyzed: pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Hardness, Nitrates, Chlorides, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). The results of the water quality analysis during the two regimes were compared. A further comparison was made with guideline values from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). The Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) method, aided by Microsoft Excel, was used to evaluate the results further. The findings showed that the Otuoke River’s water quality is significantly poor. The WAWQI values were 169.62 for low tide and 111.96 for high tide, based on the WAWQI classification. This indicated that water quality during the high tide was much better than during the low tide, but both were below recommended quality standards. Based on these findings, the river water in the current study is unfit for domestic consumption without proper treatment. It is therefore recommended that further treatment of Turbidity and BOD will make the water fit for town supply to meet the water needs of the residents. Actionable policies of waste disposal should be put in place to mitigate increased BOD and Turbidity in the Otuoke River.

Keywords

TidalOtuoke RiverWeighted AverageWater Quality Index

References

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Tidal Effects on Water Quality in the Otuoke River, Using the Weighted Arithmetic Method of Water Quality Index Analysis

Abstract

Keywords

References

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