Research Article

Assessment Of Water Quality Suitability For Sustainable Aquaculture Using Water Pollution Index: A Case Study Of Anwai River In Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Water is the basis for sustainable aquaculture and understanding its physical and chemical qualities is critical to sustainable and profitable aquaculture. Hence, the physico-chemical and heavy metal contents of Anwai river was assessed for its water quality suitability using the water pollution index and standard water quality criteria for fisheries [1] as yardstick for sustainable aquaculture. Fourteen (14) water quality parameters were monitored for a duration of twelve (12) months from July 2023 to June 2024, and analyzed according to standard methods. Concentration values were compared with the International Standard Water Quality Criteria for fisheries. Results showed that mean water temperature (27.81◦c), electrical conductivity (55.60 μS/cm), calcium (16.73 mg/L), chloride (11.04 mg/L) values were suitable for sustainable aquaculture. While mean water pH (6.24), turbidity (23.93 NTU), total suspended solids (18.43 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (2.23 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (4.80 mg/L), nitrate (16.58 mg/L), ammonium (1.15 mg/L), iron (0.07 mg/L), zinc (0.28 mg/L) and copper (0.06 mg/L) concentrations were unacceptable for the culture and survival of fish. The unacceptable levels of several physico-chemical parameters and their attendant effects on the development of fishes in conjunction with water pollution index (9.931) which was >1 recorded in the study makes the water source unsuitable for sustainable aquaculture.