Assessment of Tidal Creek Pollution from Domestic Waste in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State

This study assesses the pollution of tidal creeks in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, South South Nigeria, attributable to domestic waste disposal and sewage discharge from adjacent communities. Calabar's network of tidal creeks intersects the urban area and serves important ecological and cultural functions for coastal communities, but the progressive accumulation of solid waste, plastic debris, and untreated sewage in these waterways has degraded their condition and threatened their ecological integrity. Field surveys mapped solid waste accumulations and waste disposal points along twelve tidal creek sections in Calabar South and Calabar Municipal Local Government Areas. Water samples were collected from each creek section and analysed for biological oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, faecal coliform, total petroleum hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. Resident surveys with 160 households adjacent to assessed creeks documented waste disposal practices and attitudes towards creek cleanliness. Results show that eleven of twelve creek sections receive direct solid waste dumping, with plastic debris forming thick accumulations that impede tidal flow in three sections. Faecal coliform counts exceed 30,000 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres in six creek sections, indicating severe sewage contamination. Dissolved oxygen is below 2 milligrams per litre at four highly impacted sections. Heavy metal concentrations are elevated at sections adjacent to vehicle maintenance workshops. Household surveys reveal that 44 percent of respondents use creek banks as waste disposal points, primarily because formal collection does not reach their streets. Recommendations include extending formal waste collection to creek-adjacent communities and establishing community creek stewardship committees. Keywords: tidal creek, domestic waste, sewage pollution, Calabar, coastal water quality.