Post Impact of Hydrocarbon Spillage on Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals in the Santa Barbara River, Nembe, Bayelsa State

Abstract

The work of the paper focused on the post impact of oil spill contamination of groundwater in Bassambiri Nembe Bayelsa State. Groundwater samples were sampled from hand dug wells from eight stations including the control point for physico-chemical investigation using sterilized glass bottles. Sampling was carried out upstream and downstream on the Santa Barbara River across the stations and the results are as follows surface water pH ranged 6.90 - 7.50, electrical conductivity 19739.41 μS/cm - 28920.64 μS/cm and Chloride 6019.63 - 9274.82 mg/l. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) varied from 10472.72 mg/l - 16538.19 mg/l dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.21 mg/l - 7.371 mg/l while the mean biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) 0.09 ± 0.52 mg/l - 2.4 ± 0.81 mg/l, temperature 28.04℃ - 31.79℃ while total alkalinity is 43.95 mg/L -73.87 mg/L. Calcium ion ranged 375.68 mg/l - 536.72 mg/l, Magnesium ion 88.35 - 243.24 mg/l and Potassium ion 41.27 - 121.17 mg/l. The results of the study showed that the pH, salinity, alkalinity, total suspended solids (TSS), Chlorides, Phosphates, and Nitrates are within permissible limits of the WHO, however the electrical conductivity, TDS, turbidity, DO, BOD, and hardness exceeded WHO permissible limits for drinking water. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and Heavy metals had low concentrations in the Santa Barbara River across the study area suggesting that surface water is not polluted. However, the surfactants used initially to contain the oil pollution were effective based on this research.