Assessment of Water Quality Parameters in the Bight of Benin, Delta State

This study assesses the physicochemical and biological water quality parameters in the Bight of Benin, with particular attention to coastal communities in Delta State, South South Nigeria. Rapid industrialisation, oil exploration activities, and untreated domestic effluents have collectively degraded coastal water quality in this region, posing significant risks to aquatic biodiversity and the livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities. Drawing on recent literature from 2020 to 2024, this research employs in-situ field measurements, laboratory analysis, and spatial mapping to evaluate parameters including dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, pH, turbidity, salinity, heavy metal concentrations, and total dissolved solids across selected sampling stations. Samples are collected during both the dry and wet seasons to capture temporal variability. Preliminary findings are expected to reveal elevated heavy metal concentrations near petroleum facility discharge points and reduced dissolved oxygen levels in nearshore zones impacted by organic loading. The study compares measured values against Federal Ministry of Environment and World Health Organization permissible limits to identify violation zones. Recommendations are directed at regulatory agencies, oil companies, and local government councils to strengthen effluent monitoring and enforce environmental compliance. This research contributes baseline water quality data to the growing body of coastal environmental science in Nigeria's Niger Delta, providing a practical foundation for subsequent remediation and policy intervention efforts. Keywords: water quality, Bight of Benin, Delta State, heavy metals, coastal pollution