USE OF ALGAE AS A BIOFRIENDLY MEAN TO DETERMINE WATER QUALITY OF ROMI RIVER IN KADUNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Algal samples were collected monthly from five selected sampling stations of Romi River for two years (January, 2015 to December, 2016). A total of 66 species belong to 4 algal classes were recorded during the study period. Palmer, (1969) Algal Genus Pollution Index was employed to study the water quality of Romi River. In 2015, the total score of Algal Genus Pollution Index of station I, II, III, lV and V were 18, 66, 77, 48 and 53 respectively, while in 2016, a total score of the Algal Species Pollution Index were, station I (38), station II (89), station III (76), station IV (61) and station V (51). The total score after the two years for station II - V was greater than 20 indicating a high organic pollution. Considering the entire water parameters study and pollution index, it was clearly shown that the sampling stations II -V were highly polluted than station I. The results of the present study revealed four classes of pollution tolerant species were (Spirogyra fluviatilis Hilse, Oscillatoria agardhii Gomont and Asterionella sp.Spirogyra gratiana Transeau, Euglena gracilis Klebs, Spirogyra sp, Oscillatoria princeps Vaucher and Tabellaria fenestrala). The polluted surface water quality could be attributed to industrial waste and domestic wastewater at the downstream of the river. Thus, algal communities were confirmed as bioindicator of organic pollution of Romi River.