Urbanization and Surface Water Quality in Warri, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the impact of urbanization on surface water quality in Warri, Southern Nigeria. Warri is an urban centre in Nigeria, with a population of over 536,023 people, industrialized and drained by the Warri River. In carrying out this research, water samples were collected from two communities (Warri and Ovu) along the course of the Warri River. A total of 72 water samples were collected from January, 2018 to December, 2018 and analysed. The results showed that variation exist in the water quality in the urban centre of Warri when compared to the rural area. Also, most of the physiochemical and biological indices of water quality examined were influenced by storm water runoff, paved surfaces and industrial discharges, resulting in high concentration of these parameters as against the WHO (2010) standard. The paper recommends the monitoring of all human activities along the course of the river including proper urban planning to check incidences of surface water pollution.