Abstract
Surrounded by river water, many coastal communities are torn apart by a lack of potable water
for basic needs. Over the years, Otuoke community has relied majorly on river for its water
needs, without actually knowing its quality status, particularly during the low tides. This
research therefore addressed the pressing question of if harvesting water during the low tide is
suitable for domestic needs. The study involved the collection of five water samples from
different locations along the river reach during the low tides at distances between 150m – 200m
apart. A total of eight parameters were analyzed in the laboratory, they included pH, Total
Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Hardness, Nitrates, Chlorides,
and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). The results of the water quality analysis were
compared with guideline values from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian
Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ), using statistical charts. The Weighted
Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) method, aided by Microsoft Excel, was used to
further evaluate the overall quality of the average samples. The findings showed that the
Otuoke River’s water quality is significantly of poor quality, with a WAWQI value of 169.62
according to the WAWQI classification table. Based on these findings, the water quality during
the low tide in its current study was unfit for domestic consumption without proper treatment.
It is therefore recommended that a further treatment of Turbidity and BOD will make the water
fit for town supply to meet the water needs of the residents. Actionable policies of waste
disposal should be put in place to mitigate against increased BOD and Turbidity of the Otuoke
river.