Anthropogenic and Domestic Waste Impacts on Surface Water Quality of Asa River, Ilorin, Nigeria

• Authors: Folorunsho Jamiu Ganiyu , Fatai Sule Bolaji
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Asa River, a vital freshwater source for Ilorin, faces increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities such as industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and domestic waste discharges This study examined spatial and temporal variations in water quality across wet and dry seasons using field surveys, laboratory analyses, and statistical tests. While most physicochemical parameters were within limits, microbial indicators consistently exceeded thresholds, posing serious health risks. Water Quality Index (WQI) assessments classified the river as poor and unsuitable for domestic use without treatment. Independent samples t-tests indicated significant upstream–downstream differences, highlighting localized pollution hotspots, while paired samples t-tests confirmed greater deterioration during the dry season due to reduced dilution. Two-way Analysis of Variance revealed significant season–location interactions for parameters such as nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand, reflecting complex pollution dynamics. Overall, the findings demonstrate severe human-driven pollution of Asa River and underscore the urgent need for stricter regulation, improved monitoring, and sustainable waste management to protect environmental and public health.

Keywords

EN

Asa River Nigeria; Seasonal Variation; Surface Water Pollution; Water Quality Assessment; Water Quality Index

Discipline

• ENVIRONMENT_&_ECOLOGY: ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 63
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 259-281

Contributors

author

Folorunsho Jamiu Ganiyu

• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria

author

Fatai Sule Bolaji

• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria

References

• [1] Kadim, M. K. & Risjani, Y. Biomarker for monitoring heavy metal pollution in aquatic environment: An overview toward molecular perspectives. Emerging Contaminants 8 (2022) 195-205
• [2] Li, P., Chen, T., An, M., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Li, Y., & Wang, J. Effects of Different Types of Human Disturbance on Total and Nitrogen-Transforming Bacteria in Haihe River. Life, 12(12) (2022) 1-16
• [3] Ajibabe, L. T. Assessment of Water Quality along River Asa, Ilorin, Nigeria. The Environmentalist, 24(1) (2004) 11-18
• [4] Solihu, H. & Bilewu, S. O. Assessment of anthropogenic activities impacts on the water quality of Asa river: A case study of Amilengbe area, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. Environmental Challenges, 7 (2022) 1-11
• [5] Adeosun, F. I., Adams, T. F., & Amrevuawho, M. O. Effect of anthropogenic activities on the water quality parameters of federal university of agriculture Abeokuta reservoir. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 4(3) (2016) 104-108
• [6] Mahagamagea, M. G., & Manage, P. M. Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) Based Assessment Study of Water Quality in Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka. The 1st Environment and Natural Resources International Conference, (2014) (pp. 199-204). Bangkok.
• [7] Şener, S., Şener, E., & Davraz, A. Evaluation of water quality using water quality index (WQI) method and GIS in Aksu River (SW-Turkey). Science of the Total Environment, 584-585, (2017) 131-144
• [8] De Almeida, G. S. & De Oliveira, I. B. Application of the index WQI-CCME with data aggregation per monitoring campaign and per section of the river: case study—Joanes River, Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 190:195, (2018) 1-20
• [9] Calmuc, M., Calmuc, V., Arseni, M., Topa, C., Timofti, M., Georgescu, L., & Iticescu, C. A Comparative Approach to a Series of Physico-Chemical Quality Indices Used in Assessing Water Quality in the Lower Danube. Water, 12(3239) (2020) 1-20
• [10] Molekoa, M. D., Avtar, R. Kumar, P., Thu Minh, H. V., Dasgupta, R., Johnson, B. A., Sahu, N., Verma, R. L., & Yunus, A. P. Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Surface Water Quality in Mokopane Area, Limpopo, South Africa. Water, 13(220), (2021) 1-15.
• [11] Roshani-Sefidkouhi, M., Mortezazadeh, F., Eslamifar, M., Babanezhad, E., Sheikhi, M., & Gholami-Borujeni, F. Water quality assessment using IRWQIsc and NSFWQI water quality indicators; A case study: Talar River (Iran). Heliyon, 11(e41812), (2025) 1-14
• [12] Adekunle, I. M., et al. Assessment of lead levels and various physicochemical parameters in a river used for drinking purposes in Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology 6(12) (2007) 1469-1475
• [13] Oshode, O.A., Bakare, A.A., Adeogun, A.O., Efuntoye, M.O., Sowunmi, A.A. Ecotoxicological assessment using Clarias gariepinus and microbial characterization of leachate from municipal solid waste landfill. International Journal of Environmental Research 2(4) (2008) 391-400
• [14] Ajadi, B.S., Adaramola, M.A., Adeniyi, A., Abubakar, M.I. Effect of effluents discharge on public health in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management 9(4) (2016) 389-404
• [15] Akinboro, A., Peter, N. A., Rufai, M. A., & Ibrahim, A. O. Evaluation of Asa River Water in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria for Available Pollutants and their Effects on Mitosis and Chromosomes Morphology in Allium cepa Cells. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. 25(1) (2021)
• [16] Adzandeh, E. A., & Jamba-oda, T. Y. GIS Based Flood Vulnerability Assessment Along Asa River, Ilorin Nigeria. Journal of Geomatics and Environmental Research, 2(1) (2019) 39-57
• [17] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Ambient water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, water clarity and chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries addendum. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, Chesapeake Bay Program Office, and Region III Water Protection Division, Annapolis, Md. (2007)
• [18] WHO (2017). Guidelines for drinking-water quality (fourth ed.), Incorporating the First Addendum. Geneva: World Health Organization
• [19] Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality, ICS 13.060.20. Nigerian Industrial Standard, NIS-554-2015, Abuja, Nigeria. (2015). https://africacheck.org/sites/default/files/Nigerian-Standard-for-Drinking-Water-Quality-NIS-554-2015.pdf. Accessed: 2025-06-19
• [20] Eldaw, E., Huang, T., Elubid, B., Mahamed, A., & Mahama, Y. A Novel Approach for Indexing Heavy Metals Pollution to Assess Groundwater Quality for Drinking Purposes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1245) (2020) 1-16
• [21] Nas, B., & Berktay, A. Groundwater Quality Mapping in Urban Groundwater Using GIS. Env. Monit. Assess, 160 (2010) 215-227
• [22] Balakrishnan, P., Abdul Saleem, & Mallikarjun, N. D. Groundwater quality mapping using geographic information system (GIS): A case study of Gulbarga City, Karnataka, India. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5(12) (2011) 1069-1084
• [23] Benkov, I., Varbanov, M., Venelinov, T., & Tsakovski, S. (2023). Principal Component Analysis and the Water Quality Index—A Powerful Tool for Surface Water Quality Assessment: A Case Study on Struma River Catchment, Bulgaria. Water, 15(10), 1961. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101961
• [24] Iticescu, C.; Georgescu, L. P.; & Topa, C. M. Assessing the Danube water quality index in the city of Galati, Romania. Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences 8(4) (2013) 155-164
• [25] Bora, M. & Goswami, D. C. Water quality assessment in terms of water quality index (WQI): case study of the Kolong River, Assam, India. Applied Water Science (2016) 1-11
• [26] Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life: CCME Water Quality Index, User’s Manual. In Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, 1999; Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment: Winnipeg, MB, Canada. (2017).
• [27] Ahaneku, I. E., & Animashaun, I. M. Determination of water quality index of river Asa, Ilorin, Nigeria. Advances in Applied Science Research 4(6) (2013) 277-284
• [28] Akoto, O., Adopler, A., Tepkor, H. E., & Opoku, F. A comprehensive evaluation of surface water quality and potential health risk assessments of Sisa river, Kumasi, Groundw. Sustain. Dev. 15(100654) (2021)

• Document Type: article