Impacts Assessment of Coastal Activities on Water Quality of Upper Segment of Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, South-South, Nigeria

A study was carried out at the supper segment of Qua Iboe River from November, 2018 to August, 2019 in four sampling stations to assess the impacts of coastal activities on water quality. Water samples were collected monthly and analyzed using standard procedures of Associations of Official Analytical Chemist and American Public Health Association. The stations comparisons and location of significant differences were carried out using ANOVA and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test, while paired sample t-test were employed to compare the seasonal difference. The mean ranged values of water temperature were (25.03 – 25.33◦C), pH (5.8 – 6.6 mg/l), DO(3.11 - 5.45 mg/l), TDS (18.63 – 32.53mg/l), EC (8.33-13.16us/cm), Turbidity (7.61 – 18.32 NTU), TSS (90.80 - 165.63 mg/L), NO^-1_3(33.02 – 78.33mg/l), P03^-_4 (4.44 – 7.39mg/l), Cl-(43.60 – 63.21mg/l), COD(35.96 – 113.05mg/l), NH_3(0.33 – 0.62 mg/l). Mean values of TSS, EC, TSS, NO_3, PO^3-_4, NH_3 and turbidity were higher in wet season, while water temperature, pH, DO, Cl^- and COD values obtained were higher in dry season. Spatial variations in parameters were ascribed to levels of anthropogenic activities and wastes discharged within the stations; the seasonal variations were emanated from influx of wastes, and dilution as result of surface run-offs during wet season. Based on the findings, the WQI values were poor for human consumption; especially from station 2 to 4.These calls for urgent attention by Federal / State Ministry Health and Environment regards to its effects on human health and consistent water quality monitoring should be put into consideration.