An Analytical Study of Some Water Quality Parameters and Their Implications for Public Health in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of water quality parameters in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with the aim of identifying key trends, correlations, and potential public health implications. The dataset comprises 1000 water samples. All data analysis was performed using the Python programming language with libraries such as Pandas and NumPy for data manipulation, and SciPy and Matplotlib for statistical analysis and visualization. Descriptive statistics revealed significant variability in water quality, with an average pH of 4.88, indicating acidity in many samples. The mean turbidity was 1.31 NTU, with some samples showing extremely high values up to 240 NTU. The presence of microbial contamination was evident, with mean Fecal Coliform and Total Coliform counts of 9.66 and 11.33, respectively. A correlation analysis indicated weak linear relationships between most parameters, highlighting the complex nature of water quality. An ANOVA test showed a statistically significant difference in turbidity levels across various water sources (F-statistic = 2.64, p-value = 0.032), suggesting that the source type is a significant determinant of water clarity. Furthermore, a comparison of Total Coliform levels between the dry and wet seasons showed similar contamination, challenging the assumption that microbial pollution is solely influenced by seasonal precipitation. The findings underscore a need for a multi-parameter approach to water quality assessment and highlight critical public health risks associated with acidic and microbiologically contaminated water.