Degradability and Organic Strength of Gross Organic Pollutants In Surface Water of Mini Whuo Stream Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, Nigeria

Water samples were collected from Mini Whou Stream and analyzed for gross organic pollutants and the results was used to evaluate the organic strength of the Stream. The gross organic pollutants studied were dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Dissolved oxygen within the months studied ranged from 5.45±0.15-5.58±0.14mg/L, which were lower than the WHO value for drinking water. Biochemical oxygen demand within the months studied ranged from 36.25±4.47-36.55±3.88mg/L, which was higher than the recommended level for drinking water by WHO. Chemical oxygen within the months studied ranged from 51.82±3.25 – 52.57 mg/L which was above the WHO acceptable level. The organic strength (BOD/COD) of the surface water during the months ranged from 0.69–0.70. The results recorded revealed that the stream was polluted with gross organic pollutants and is therefore not fit for human consumption. The values recorded for organic strength indicated that microbial breakdown of organic matter was very active, which showed that the water of the stream was contaminated with organic pollutants. This should therefore discourage input of organic matter from diffuse sources into the stream. Keywords: Biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, gross organic pollutants, organic strength