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This study examines some physico-chemical parameters in Warri refinery effluent and its effect on the
receiving Iffie River. The data that were used in this study were generated from direct field measurements
and laboratory analysis. Recorded mean pH values of the treated and untreated effluents, and receiving
water body were 7.79 ± 0.04, 8.25 ± 0.02, 7.84 ± 0.01 (upstream), 7.84 ± 0.01 (downstream) and 8.02 ±
0.01 (point of discharge) respectively. Temperature ranged from 25.75°C - 27.30°C in all samples. The
turbidity value for the treated effluent was 3.30 ± 0.01 NTU and 7.50 ± 0.06 NTU for the untreated
effluent while that of the receiving Iffie River ranged from 14.60 – 16.20 NTU. Electrical conductivity
ranged from 137 – 108 μS/cm for the treated and untreated effluents and mean values of 52.13 + 1.53,
52.50 + 2.50 and 73.33 + 0.88 for the upstream, downstream and point of discharge sections
respectively indicating natural dilutions. Total hydrocarbon (THC) and total dissolved solids (TDS)
varied from maximum values of 10.24 and 170.00 mg/l respectively. It was observed that the untreated
effluent had more statistically significant phenol content (29.86±0.07) than those of the treated effluent
(8.44±0.02) at p = 0.05 while cyanide concentration was higher than the WHO limit (0.07 mg/l) for waste
water. Although significant improvements were evident in some water quality parameters, elevated levels
of major refinery contaminants, hydrocarbons and phenol in treated effluent is indicative of
ineffectiveness of purification systems.
Keywords: Effluents, Iffie River, Water quality, Phenol, Refinery, Upstream, Downstream.