Impact of Palm Oil Mill Effluent on Physico-chemical Parameters of a Southwestern River, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The physico-chemical parameters of water and palm oil mill effluent (POME) samples of Ayanyan River was investigated between August 2009 and July 2010 to assess the impact of the POME on the water quality. The parameters tested were pH, temperature, alkalinity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, lead, oil and grease. Standard methods of water and waste water analysis were used and compared with WHO permissible limit. The results showed that all the samples had values above the WHO standards which makes the river water unsafe to both human and aquatic life. As there is rising concern globally regarding POME as one of the sources of greenhouse gases, legislative measures are necessary to enforce laws and rules on land-use and waste regulation to control the location and management of palm oil mills, especially when cited near water bodies close to residential areas.

Keywords: Physico-chemical parameters, POME, Ayanyan River, Pollution, Remediation.