Study of Auto Purification Capacity of River Atuwara in Nigeria

The aim of this study was to study and predict the self purification capacity of River Atuwara. This was done primarily by measuring the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) downstream of a pre-selected pollution discharge point on River Atuwara and then predicting the same using the modified Streeter-Phelps equations. Other data gathered from each of the 17 sampling stations on River Atuwara and used in the analysis included Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), pH, stream velocity, stream depth and distance. Predicted DO deficit trend lines were first fitted by retaining the original re-aeration coefficient component, k2 of the modified Streeter-Phelps equation (USGS equation) and subsequently by substituting it with Atuwara Reaeration Coefficient Model. It was found that the latter displayed better predictive capacity.