ABSTRACT
Water released from ponds has greater concentrations of nutrients, organic matter and suspended solids. This study investigated the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of fish pond waste water harvested from a source which served as the control, three different ponds and at the point of discharge in Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) farm, Ekiti State. The samples were collected in 50 ml capacity polypropylene containers. Parameters investigated include temperature, pH, colour, odour, turbidity, TDS, calcium, copper, potassium, sodium, magnesium, DO, BOD, COD, faecal coliform count The laboratory analysis were carried out in tile Department of Chemistry (Analytical Laboratory), Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti. The results were compared with the Acceptable Environmental Standards (FEPA, 1991) and it's observed that the measured parameters were within standards. The water has deep green colour at the point of discharge but it is a bit green at-both fish ponds a11dlight brown at the point of entry since it comes in from a stream, its change in colour is suspected to be a result of tile fish and feeding activities carried out in the pond. The pH for this work ranges from 6.8 to 7.13, most fish species do well within the pH range of 6.5 to 9.5. Also, the presence of a small amount of faecal coliform group parameters in the source indicate the presence of human and livestock faeces since it is from a flowing stream but this increases as the water enters the pond and at the point of discharge, faeces of fish might have increased the concentration in the water. Sedimentation tank, •also called settling tank or clarifier. A sedimentation tank allows suspended particles to settle out of water or wastewater as it flows slowly through the tank, thereby providing some degree of purification. In view of tile physical, chemical and biological results, harvested fish pond waste water should be further treated using the sedimentation tank and other appropriate methods before it is being discharged to the environment for both domestic mid non- domestic use. Further researches should be done to ascertain the extent of groundwater pollution by the fishpond wastewaters.
