Assessing the Influence of Anthropogenic Factors on Water Quality: A Case Study of Ikpa River Basin, Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess how anthropogenic activities have affected water quality in Ikpa River Basin. These activities have deteriorated the water quality extensively due to the substances released by the activities which include pH, Total dissolve solid (TDS), Hardness, Chloride, sulphate and lead, Nickel, Iron, E. coli, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform. A combination of survey and laboratory analysis was used. Three (3) communities within the Ikpa river basin were purposively picked based on the high level of anthropogenic activities in these communities. The communities include Ntak Inyang, Ekpri Nsukara, Mbiakong with a sample size of 383. This study revealed that farming activities, sand mining, mechanic workshop, quarrying and palm oil processing are the most dominant anthropogenic activities around Ikpa River Basin. Total dissolve solid (TDS), pH, Hardness, Chloride, Nitrate, Sulphate and Lead are variables within the permissible WHO limit, while Nickel, Iron, E coli, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform on Ikpa river are variables above the permissible limit. The study also revealed that farming activities, quarrying and sand mining significantly affect the water quality of Ikpa River Basin.  Thus, the comparisons indicate that the surface and ground water from the locations are not safe for human consumption without extensive treatment. Hence, immediate intervention and appropriate water treatment measures are necessary to bring the water quality to acceptable WHO standards, particularly regarding heavy metals and microbial contamination.