Impact Assessment of Poultry Discharge on the Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Water Quality of Olosuru Stream in Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria

This study investigated the impact assessment of poultry wastes discharge from a nearby poultry farm on the physico-chemical and microbiological water quality of Olosuru Stream, Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria. Five sampling stations (designated A, B, C, D and E) each located at 250 m interval along the course of the stream were selected for the study. The physico-chemical parameters in the water body vary in concentration along spatial, monthly and seasonal variation of Olosuru stream. The patterns of spatial distribution of physico-chemical parameters measured for the stream were generally similar except for calcium and hardness which showed significant difference for the five stations. The overall mean values of most of the parameters investigated; pH (7.45 ± 0.24), conductivity (628.69 ± 255.95 μs/cm), TDS (377.3 ± 153.55 mg/L), sulphate (10.89 ± 2.37 mg/L), BOD5 (3.19 ± 2.35 mg/L), cadmium, arsenic, manganese, total heterotrophic bacteria count (15,080.67 ± 20,250.67 cfu/ml), total coliform bacteria count (3226 ± 8426.70 cfu/ml) and total heterotrophic fungi count (2567.4 ± 7652.12 cfu/ml) were negatively impacted by poultry wastes dumping into the stream. The concentrations of most parameters exceeded recommended permissible limits of the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water and World Health Organization for freshwater quality. The water source is therefore deemed not potable and poses hazards to public health if consumed without treatment. There is urgent need for improved management strategies of this water resource for continued sustainability. How to cite this paper: Oyewale, A.T., Adesakin, T.A., Oyedeji, O., Aduwo, A.I. and Bakare, M.K. (2018) Impact Assessment of Poultry Discharge on the Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Water Quality of Olosuru Stream in Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 10, 1061-1082. https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2018.1011062 Received: September 19, 2018 Accepted: November 11, 2018 Published: November 14, 2018 Copyright © 2018 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access A. T. Oyewale et al. DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2018.1011062 1062 Journal of Water Resource and Protection


Introduction
Water covers about 70% of Earth's surface, makes up about 70% of human body mass, and is essential for life [1].Most plants and animals contain more than 60% water by volume.The fact that water covers more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface, it is hard to imagine that it is a scarce resource.The problem is that less than 1% of the water on the planet is readily available for drinking or for most agriculture [2].Most of the water on Earth, 97%, is salt water stored in the oceans; only 3% is freshwater [2].Of all of the freshwater on Earth, 68% is locked up in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland, 30% is in the ground, and only 0.3% is contained in surface waters such as lakes, rivers and streams [3].Water quality reflects the composition of water as affected by natural cause and man's cultural activities expressed in terms of measurable quantities and related to intended water use [4].Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics [5].A healthy water environment is that which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and is conducive to public health.The water quality of a body of water influences its use by the riparian communities for drinking, swimming or commercial purposes.More specifically, water and water bodies may be used by the community for the following purposes: drinking and domestic purposes, recreation (swimming, boating, surfing, skating, etc.), irrigation of crops and watering of livestock, industrial processes, navigation and shipping, production of fin fish and shell fish, protection of aquatic ecosystems, wildlife habitats and scientific study and education [5].Pollution of the aquatic environment, as defined by [6], occurs when humans introduce, either by direct discharge to water or indirectly (for example through atmospheric pollution or water management practices), substances or energy that result in deleterious effects such as: hazards to human health, harm to living resources, hindrance to aquatic activities such as fishing and impairment of water quality with respect to its use in economic activities, or reduction of amenity value.
It is estimated that production and consumption of poultry meat in developing countries will increase by 3.6 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, per annum from 2005 to 2030 because of rising incomes, diversification of diets and expanding markets [7].There is little doubt that the consumption and, thus, production of poultry will continue to increase relative to the world's population and economy.Consequently, environmental parameters impacted by waste by-products resulting from the production and processing of poultry products are of increasing importance worldwide.The increase in concentration of livestock and poultry also leads to increased concentration of animal manure that must be manage.As production has shifted to much larger, more concentrated operations, livestock and poultry operations have become separate from the land base that produces their feed [8].While livestock manure can be a resource, it can also degrade environmental quality, particularly surface and ground water if not managed appropriately [9].Impacts of poultry litter application on surface runoff and chemical water quality in receiving streams were reported in [10] [11] [12].Most outbreaks of waterborne and foodborne gastrointestinal illness, even those caused by zoonotic pathogens, are attributable to human faecal contamination, although agricultural sources have been implicated in a number of cases [13].
Olosuru stream is a perennial surface water source situated within Ikire Township.The water serves both domestic and agricultural purposes to the riparian users within the town.However, there is scarcity of information on the operations of a poultry farm situated along the course of the stream water source.This study aimed to investigate the impact of the activities of this poultry farm, with a view to determining the potability of the stream water for its primary (domestic and agricultural) purposes.

Study Area
The study was based along the course of Olosuru Stream, Ikire urban Area in Osun State, Nigeria.Five sampling points (designated A, B, C, D and E) each located at 250 m interval along the course of the stream were selected for the study.Points A and B are before the discharge point (upstream), C is point of discharge, while D and E are after point of discharge (downstream) as shown in Figure 1.The grid co-ordinates of each point were determined using portable Global Positioning Systems (GPS) equipment (Model GERMIN GPS map 76CSX).The study area lies within latitude 07˚20' and 07˚22'N and longitude 004˚10' and 004˚11'E., Ikire has an estimated population of 143,599.The climate is humid tropical type with a mean annual temperature of about 27˚C and a mean annual rainfall of over 1300 mm.The geology survey map suggests that the basement complex in this area comprises migmatised gneisses and granite.There are occurrences of schist and quartzite, occasionally amphibolite, gabro, diorites; the dominant in the surveyed area is gneisses [15] [16].The soils are mainly the well-drained Apomu series known as Cambic Arenosols [17].

Sample Collection
Water samples were collected into four sets of sterilized, sealed and well-labelled sample bottles (namely Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) bottles, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) bottles, sterile universal bottles and sterile plastic bottles) for BOD analysis, DO analysis, microbiological analysis and physico-chemical analysis respectively.At the sampling points, the sampling bottles and caps were rinsed three times with the water to be sampled prior to sampling.Water samples were then collected directly into the sampling bottles against the run of flow of the stream with standard procedures well observed [18].Water sampling was conducted six times spanning through the rain (September, October 2014 and April 2015) and dry seasons (November 2014, January and February 2015).

Physico-Chemical Parameters and Microbial Analysis
The stream water samples were examined for physico-chemical parameters such as ambient air and water temperature using mercury-in-glass bulb thermometer on the spot of collection; apparent colour, true colour and turbidity were determined through turbidimetric method using (JENWAY 6051) colorimeter; Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids and Total Solids were analyzed by gravimetric method.Conductivity and pH were analyzed using Conductivity and pH meter respectively (PCE-PHD 1), calcium and magnesium were determined through complexometric titration; sulphate was analyzed using turbidimetric method; nitrate-nitrogen was determined through instrumental method using ultra violet visible spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific).Dissolved Oxygen and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD 5 ) were analyzed through Iodometric titration using Winkler's reagent, sulphuric acid, starch indicator and sodium thiosulphate.Heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic, iron, manganese and lead) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (PG 990).The microbiological parameters determined included total heterotrophic bacteria count, total coliform bacteria count and total fungi count, using serial dilution method and pour plate techniques.Streaking method was used to obtained pure bacterial isolates by sub-culturing a previously incubated plate onto a freshly prepared sterile plate while pure fungi isolates were obtained using cutting technique by sub-culturing a previously incubated plate onto a freshly prepared sterile plate.
The water samples were analyzed with the holding time of the respective parameters using standard methods with adequate quality control measures.The bacterial isolates were characterized using colonial, morphological and biochemical identification methods.They were further identified using Bergey's manual of Determinative Bacteriology; the microscopic and macroscopic identification of fungi isolates were carried out using standard methods.

Data Analysis
The data obtained were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods including descriptive statistics, inferential statistics (ANOVA, regression, correlation analyses) through Statistic Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 and PAST (Paleontological Statistics) statistical software.

Results
The results of the physico-chemical characteristics, microbial loads and some heavy metals of water from Olosuru stream at the different sampling stations are summarized in Tables 1-5 showed the identifications of bacterial and fungal isolates from the water samples respectively.

Aspergillus flavus
Lime green Texture is woolly to cotton Conidiophore upright, simple terminating in a globose or clavate swelling, bearing phialides at the apex or radiating from the entire surface.

Light green
Conidiophore hyaline, simple, thin in cell wall, inflated clavately at the apex forming often nodded vesicles, bearing conidial heads.

Aspergillus niger
Initially white, quickly becoming black with conidial production Conidiophore hyaline or pale brown, erect, simple, thick-walled, with foot cells basally.

Aspergillus parasiticus
Dark yellowish-green and velvety Conidiophores erect, simple, rough in the surface, with foot cells basally inflated at the apex.

Mucor luteus
Initially white, turns to greyish brown with ageing Sporangiophore and sporangium with collar, columella and sporangiospores.
White colouration, rapid growth Ascospores hyaline, simple, ellipsoidal, nearly smooth, germ pores disposed at the ends of the ascospores.

Deep brown
Club-shaped basidia with multiple apical sterigmata, oval, hyaline basidiospores.   2 showing 4 major clustering diagram was formed: 1) Magnesium, true colour, Cd, Mn, Pb, As, TCBC and Fe; 2) turbidity, TDS, conductivity, TSS, TS; 3) pH, nitrate-nitrogen, calcium, hardness water temperature and air temperature; 4) Magnesium, THBC, DO, apparent colour, BOD and THFC. Figure 3 showing one major clustered diagram were formed among the stations which are: station D, station B, station A, station E and only station C was separate from others.

Discussion
The physico-chemical parameters in the water body vary in concentration along spatial, seasonal and monthly variation of Olosuru stream.The patterns of spatial distribution of physico-chemical parameters measured for the stream were generally similar except for calcium and hardness which showed significant difference for the five stations.Temperature is one of most important factor that influences primary production in any aquatic environment and It depends on the climate, sunlight and depth [19] [20] [21].The mean of air temperature values, although higher, followed closely the changes in water temperatures and this might be attributed to the sampling time and climatic factor.Air and water temperature showed a strong positive relationship for the Olosuru stream, a similar report was documented by [22].Lower mean temperature recorded during October and January was attributed to the effect of harmattan wind while the highest mean temperature recorded during April was attributed to the beginning of the wet season when insolation was at its highest while similar reports have been observed for Owena Reservoir [23], Oyan and Asejire Lakes [24].The minimum and maximum temperatures (25.00 and 29.5˚C, respectively) are normal for tropical waters and are required for the normal growth of aquatic organisms.An overall pH ranged of 7.1 -8.24 with mean concentration (7.45 ± 0.24) was observed for Olosuru stream and it is regarded as slightly alkaline.
This is in agreement with the work of [25] who suggested that discharge of poultry wastes into stream water bodies increases the presence of lime-like materials such as calcium and magnesium in such stream.[26] recorded pH values ranging from 6.9 -9.6, while [24] reported a pH range of 6.2 -8.5.Accumulation of free carbon dioxide due to little photosynthetic activities of phytoplankton will lower the pH value of the water while intense photosynthetic activities of phytoplankton will reduce the free carbon dioxide content resulting in increased pH values [20].There was a sharp decrease in the pH mean of Olosuru stream in September.This can be attributed to the increased organic matter brought in by rain as a result of runoff during peak wet season that tends to reduce dissolved oxygen through utilization of organic dehydration giving rise to a fall in pH [27].± 255.95 µS/cm) for Olosuru stream during the study can be regarded as intermediate to high according to the classification by [36].Conductivity levels below 50 µS/cm are regarded as low; those between 50 -600 µS/cm are medium while those above 600 µS/cm are high conductivity levels.For many Nigerian inland water bodies the conductivities are much less than 500 µS/cm at the peak of the dry season and much less than 100 µS/cm during the rainy season [37].The general trend in this study was that mean conductivity tended to slight decrease in the dry season compared with the wet season.Increased conductivities could result from low precipitation, higher atmospheric temperatures resulting in higher evapotranspiration rates and higher total ionic concentration, and saline intrusions from underground sources.It could also be due to a high rate of decomposition and mineralisation by microbes and nutrient regeneration from bottom sediments [37].The significantly higher conductivity value recorded for Olosuru stream during the wet season suggests that allochthonous materials brought in by streams draining the catchments area plays a major role in the limnology studies of waterbody.The lower conductivity values recorded for the dry season may be due to the utilization of such allochthonous materials by the phytoplanktonic organisms of the reservoir [38].In this study, True colour, TS, TSS, TDS, Hardness, calcium, magnesium, sulphate, Fe and Mn were signifi- .The impact of the poultry waste discharges has a significant effect on the DO values of the stream.This conforms to the findings of [41].The overall DO mean value obtained during the period of study, despite the expected pollution from the poultry waste discharge, could be attributed to aeration from the high stream flow rate at the time when the samples were collected [24].The low DO value may be attributable to the drying effect and the depletion of oxygen by microorganisms from the poultry wastes [42].The values of BOD were higher during the dry season than the wet season while the mean concentration of BOD observed at station C, November and January were generally greater than the BOD standard of 4.0 mg/L for drinking water, which relates to the work of [43].Further, the study's BOD results were within standard limits of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency [44] standard of 6.0 mg/L, indicating a low level of pollution in the stream from the poultry wastes discharge.Decaying riparian vegetation also might have added to the high values of BOD recorded during this study, especially in regard to the samples collected at the discharge point [45].Nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N) values ranged from 6.22 to 15.26 mg/L during the wet season and 3.67 to 16.09 mg/L during the dry season.In an unpolluted river, nitrate is usually less than 1.0 mg/L [46].The mean concentration of NO 3 -N recorded during this study was above 10 m/L expected for station A and in the month of February.This may be as result of poultry waste discharge and other anthropogenic activities, such as farming and the introduction of organic materials by runoff [47] [48].The elevated NO 3 -N concentration indicates deterioration of the stream's water quality.Nitrate concentrations exceeding 10 mg/L are considered harmful and can cause methemoglobinemia in infants under six months as well as other health effects, such as diarrhea and respiratory diseases [49].Studies have also revealed that long-term exposure to nitrate levels between 11 and 61 mg/L could increase the risk of hyperthyroidism [50], while nitrate levels greater than 25 mg/L have been associated with insulin dependent diabetes [51].The Pb concentration observed in Olosuru stream ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/L with mean value of 0.02 ± 0.01 mg/L while the concentrations of lead ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/L in samples collected during the wet season and from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/L during the dry season.The mean values were higher during the wet season compared to the dry season.The presence of lead in the stream maybe traced to the deposition of lead-containing substances from nearby refuse sites, which have been carried into the stream via erosion, and from dry deposition from vehicular emissions [52] [53] [54].At station A, the mean lead value is higher than the WHO permissible standards of 0.01 mg/L.Lead is a toxic metal that is particularly harmful to children [55].It affects the central and peripheral nervous system, organs, bones, and kidneys [35].Cadmium concentrations in the stream were generally low during the study period, with values ranging from not detected 0.01 to 0.03 mg/L and highest mean concentration recorded during the wet and dry seasons, respectively.All the cadmium mean concentrations recorded were less than the 0.005 mg/L standard in drinking water [56].High concentrations of cadmium in water could lead to cancer and affect hormones and enzymes, which can lead to malformations, including renal damage [57] [58].In this study, bacterial species isolated can be grouped into thirteen genera namely Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Yersinia, Morganella, Escherichia, Proteus, Vibrio, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus and Moraxella.The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other genera of Enterobacteriaceae (coliforms) such as Escherichia coli (faecal coliform), is an indication that the stream water was of poor microbiological quality.This agrees with the submission of [59] that the presence of E. coli in water samples is an indication of faecal contamination of the waterbody.The mean value of total coliforms from Olosuru stream exceeded the permissible World Health Organization standard which states that total coliform and faecal coliforms must not be detectable in any 100 ml of water sample intended for drinking [60].The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other genera of Enterobacteriaceae are associated with gastroenteritis [61] [62].The Staphylococcus spp. is known to produce enterotoxin, which is harmful to human [63].
Twelve fungal species belonging to six genera were isolated in this study.These included Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus brevipes, Rhizopus sp, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Mucor circinellioides, Mucor luteus, Rhizoctonia sp., Rhizopus stolonifers and Trichoderma harzianum.Some of these have been implicated in human chronic illnesses upon ingestion of contaminated water [64].
The dominance of Aspergillus spp.can be linked to the poultry wastes materials in the stream water.This was in agreement with the work of [65], who reported Aspergillus spp. as the dominant fungal isolate from poultry feeds obtained from commercial, self-compound and organized poultry feeds in Nigeria.
Aspergillus flavus is known to produce aflatoxins which are the most toxic and potent hepatocarcinogenic natural compounds ever characterized [66].A wide range of diseases in human could be caused by Aspergillus sp., ranging from hypersensitivity reactions to invasive infections associated with angioinvasion [66].

Conclusion
The study concluded that in comparison with international guide levels for drinking water, the water samples from Olosuru stream in Ikire were not potable and were unsuitable for drinking with respect to pH, conductivity, TDS, sulphate, BOD 5 , cadmium, arsenic, manganese, total heterotrophic bacteria count, total coliform and total fungi.The result of this work also indicated a serious health hazard to the riparian users of water obtained from the stream without prior treatment.
is cotton-candy like Sporangiospores hyaline, simple, smooth in the surface, Sporangia are round with flattened bases, located at the tip of the sporangiophores.11 Rhizopus stolonifer Rapid growth with white colouration Ellipsoidal structure with rhizoid may be immature zygospore.hyaline, branched, and demonstrate a pyramidal arrangement; Conidia are unicellular, ellipsoidal, green in color, smooth walled.(NO 3 -N) values ranged from 3.67 to 16.09 mg/L while mean concentration obtained during the dry season (11.29 ± 3.45) is higher than wet season (10.88 ± 2.80).Concentrations of lead ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/L in samples collected during the wet season and from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/L during the dry season.Higher mean concentration were recorded for Cd, Fe, Mn and Pb (0.02 ± 0.00 mg/L, 0.22 ± 0.06 mg/L, 0.07 ± 0.29 mg/L and 0.018 ± 0.06 mg/L) during wet season than dry season.The recorded total heterotrophic bacterial counts (THBC) from the stream water samples fell within the range of 3.10 × 10 1 -6.81 × 10 4 CFU•mL −1 with an overall mean of 1.51 × 10 4 ± 2.02 × 10 4 CFU•mL −1 .The total coliform bacteria counts (TCBC) over the period of study were in the range of 0 -3.8 × 10 4 CFU•mL −1 with an overall mean of (3.23 × 10 3 ± 8.43 × 10 3 CFU•mL −1 ) while the overall mean value for total heterotrophic fungi count (THF) over the study period was (2.57× 10 3 ± 7.65 × 10 3 SFU•mL −1 ) within the range of 0.00 -3.10 × 10 4 SFU•mL −1 .

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Cluster diagram showing relationship between the stations of Olosuru stream, Ikire Southwestern, Nigeria.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Cluster diagram showing relationship between the physico-chemical parameters and microbial loads of Olosuru stream, Ikire Southwestern, Nigeria.
cantly higher in mean values during wet season than dry season.This could be due to run-off entering the water body during the wet season period and reported three major components influencing the physico-chemistry of Olosuru stream which are trace metals, dissolved oxygen and ionic composition.The DO concentration ranged from 1.2 to 7.80 mg/L with overall mean value of 4.00 ± 2.10 mg/L.Low mean concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) was observed during the dry season while high mean concentration of DO was observed during the wet season.The mean results of DO recorded during both season were within the minimum value of 5.0 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of DO standard for surface water, but DO values recorded for station E during November and September sampling periods were above standard.This shows correlations with the works of[39] [40] Ikire urban area is the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State.The Local Government Area is bounded in the north by Ayedire, in the south by Isokan, in the east by Ayedaade, and in the south east by Ife-North Local Government Areas of Osun state respectively.It also shares boundary with Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo state to the west.It has a land mass of 271 km 2 .According to the 2006 census by the National Population Council [14]

Table 1 .
Seasonal variation for physico-chemical parameters and microbial loads of Olosuru stream, Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria.
(26.45˚C ± 0.75˚C).The overall mean water temperature for the study period was 26.56˚C ± 1.21˚C while mean water temperature for the dry season (26.45˚C ± 0.64˚C) was slightly lower than the wet season value (26.68˚C ± 1.61˚C).Pt.Co.) during the dry season than wet season (90.19 ± 2.28 Pt.Co.).Turbidity ranged from 3.63 to 88.57NTU during the wet season and 0.37 to 91.84 NTU during the dry season.Low mean concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) were generally observed during the dry season (3.95 ± 2.22 mg/L) while high

Table 4 .
Biochemical characterizations of bacterial isolates from olosuru stream in ikire.

Table 5 .
Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of fungi isolated from olosuru stream water samples in ikire township.

Table 2
shows the results of the physico-chemical parameters measured for spatial variations.The lowest mean air temperature (26.80˚C ± 1.16˚C) was recorded in station C while the highest air temperature (27.08˚C ± 1.46˚C) was

Table 6 .
Principal component analysis showing the spatial and seasonal variation of physico-chemical parameters and microbial loads of Olosuru stream, Ikire, Southwestern, Nigeria.
parent colour and pH were highest in station E. The highest mean value for THBC was observed at point C (2.22 × 10 4 ± 1.63 × 10 4 CFU•mL −1 ), while the lowest mean THBC occurred at Point E (1.84 × 10 3 ± 2.44 × 10 3 CFU•mL −1 ) and values for apparent colour and true colour respectively.The highest mean value for TSS was recorded in April while there was significant difference (p < 0.01) in the monthly variation for TS in this study.Maximum mean concentration for DO was observed in September (6.28 ± 1.14 mg/L) and there is significant difference (p < 0.01) in monthly variation.BOD and pH mean concentration was highest in January and there was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the monthly variation for BOD.Sulphate concentration was highest in October and there was

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Diagrams of Physico-Chemical Parameters of Olosuru Stream, Ikire Southwestern Nigeria
The first two components for the wet season accounted for 91.64% of the cumulative variance.The first component accounted for 69.18% of the explained variance.TS and TSS recorded high positive loadings of 5.84 and 3.49, respectively while TDS recorded a positive loading of 0.75 (Table6).The first two components for the dry season accounted for 84.73% of the cumulative variance.The first component accounted for 67.68% of the explained variance.Only TS recorded high load of 1.98 while TDS and TSS recorded a positive loading of 0.22 and 0.55.The second component accounted for 17.05% of the explained variance.TS, TDS and TSS recorded high positive loadings of 5.36, 1.53 and 3.14 respectively.The first two components for station A accounted for 98.97% of the cumulative variance.The first component accounted for 79.94% of the explained variance.TS, TSS, conductivity and THBC recorded high positive loadings of 2.42, 1.27, 0.85 and 8.40 respectively while TDS recorded a low positive loading of 0.08.The second component accounted for 19.03% of the explained variance and TS, TDS, TSS and conductivity recorded a high positive loading of 3.12, 0.60, 2.06 and 1.30 respectively.The first two components for station B accounted for 94.87% of the cumulative variance.The first component accounted for 64.72% of the explained variance.TS, TSS and THBC recorded high positive loadings of 2.18, 1.21 and 7.52 respectively.The second component accounted for 30.15% of the explained variance and TS, TDS, TSS and conductivity recorded a high positive loading of 3.93, 0.74, 2.66 and 1.59 respectively.The first component for station C accounted for 64.55% of the explained variance while THBC, TCBC and THFC recorded high positive loadings of 7.69, 2.44 and 0.84 respectively.The first two components for station D accounted for 98.38% of the cumulative variance.The first component accounted for 77.84% of the explained variance.TS, TSS, conductivity, THBC and TCBC recorded high positive loadings of 1.86, 0.77, 0.76, 8.51 and 0.54 respectively while TDS recorded a low positive loading of 0.06.The second component accounted for 20.54% of the explained variance and TS, TDS, TSS and THFC conductivity recorded a high positive loading of 3.32, 0.42, 2.44, 1.03 and 0.27 respectively.The first component for station D accounted for 64.37% of the explained variance while TS, TDS, TSS, conductivity, THBC and THFC recorded high positive loadings of 4.25, 0.99, 1.85, 2.58, 5.05 and 0.55 respectively.Clustered diagram showing the relationship between the physico-chemical parameters and the stations.Figure