The Effect of Sand Mining on the Physico-Chemical Parameters of Ikot Ekpan River, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effects of sand mining on the physico-chemical parameters of Ikot Ekpan River. Four sampling stations were selected. Station one, was a partially dredged section of the river, station 2 and 4; fully dredged portions while station 3, (under the bridge) was not dredged. Temperature, DO, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, salinity, acidity, BOD, transparency, depth, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, phosphate and ammonium were measured using standard methods. There were no spatial significant variations (p>0.05) in eleven (temperature, pH, EC, salinity, TDS, BOD, acidity, sulphate, transparency, nitrate and nitrite) of the sixteen parameters measured. However, temperature, EC, salinity, turbidity, sulphate, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite showed significant seasonal variations (p<0.05). The remaining parameters did not show significant seasonal variations (p>0.05). No parameters exceeded WHO standards except for turbidity, thus indicating water quality to be good.

Keywords: Sand mining, physico-chemical parameters, stations, DO, Ikot Ekpan River.