Studies on the physicochemical and biological characteristics of a stream receiving municipal discharges located at Port Harcourt of Rivers State, Nigeria within latitude 4E50ʼʼ and 5E00ʼʼN and longitude 6E55ʼʼand 7E00ʼʼE were conducted for six months.The main aim was to investigate the effect of municipal discharges on the water quality of the stream.Samples were collected and analysed for physicochemical and biological characteristics.The results of the physicochemical parameters-showed limited variations for the stations except for the lower stretch of the stream where low concentrations of dissolved oxygen were observed reflecting high effluent waste particularly discharged at this limit.On the temporal basis, samples in the dry season had increased values of temperature (EC), pH, conductivity (us cmG 1 ) alkalinity, phosphate and ammonia (mg LG 1 ) indicating more pronounced effect of municipal discharges on the water quality.The results of the biological attribute showed relatively low species diversity, an increase in species abundance, an enhanced chlorophyll a biomass and primary production.Correlation coefficient analyses with all measured physicochemical parameters suggest a significant correlation between phytoplankton and most physicochemical parameters (temperature, alkalinity, ammonia and phosphate).Primary productivity was significantly correlated with conductivity and phosphate.The physicochemical studies indicate that despite the discharges, the water system does not appear to be polluted.However, the biological parameters described the state of the water more accurately in the preponderance of aquatic organism such as Cyanophyceae that are known to inhabit polluted water system.
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Obianefo et al. (2016) studied this question.