Physicochemical Parameters and Quality Index of Water Samples from Okobo Coal Mine Site

Pollution from human activities such as mining is one of many pressures affecting surface water systems and resources. Physicochemical parameters of water samples from Okobo mine site and its environs were investigated following standard methods and procedures for sampling and evaluation. The parameters analysed were pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), chloride, total dissolved solid (TDS), hardness, nitrate and sulphate. These were expressed using Water Quality Index (WQI) a value that reflects overall quality of water at a given location and time. WQI transform complex water quality data into information that determine whether the water is safe for human consumption and the biotic environment. In this work WAWQI was used to estimate the water quality. The results obtained showed that WQI for upstream is >100 while the downstream value is < 1, an indication that the downstream water is safe for human consumption.