WATER QUALITY STATUS OF OKURA RIVER, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA.

Okura River is the major source of water supply to the communities and neighbouring villages within and outside the Dekina Local Government Area (LGA) in Kogi State. As a result of anthropogenic activities such as bathing with soap and washing farm produce, this study was conducted to investigate certain aspects of the physicochemical parameters of the river. The study covers four sampling sites: Okura-olafia (control), Ofejiji, Greater Ochaja and Ochaja (Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria) (impacted). Samples were taken based on human activities around the river, which covers a span of six months from August 2019 to January 2020. The samples were analysed using standard methods. The results obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for significant differences (p < 0.05) between the physicochemical parameters in months. The findings of the study show that the temperature ranged from 24.05 - 25.50 ℃ while the overall average pH value was 6.16. The average turbidity ranged between 141.44 to 152.21 NTU. The overall average dissolved oxygen level of the river is 6.52 mg/l. The average monthly sulphate ranged from 0.77 to 7.65 mg/l, while the average phosphate level ranged between 0.76 to 5.89 mg/l. The results of the physicochemical parameters analysed during the study period show varying levels of turbidity, dissolved oxygen, sulphate, and phosphate across the different sites associated with various human activities. Based on the findings, periodic assessments of physicochemical parameters should be made, recorded, and archived for future reference.