ABSTRACT
The quality of fish cultivated is strongly based on the quality of water used in its cultivation. This research was aimed at studying the physiochemial parameters of fish pond water samples collected from fish farms in Uteh community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, with a view of ascertaining the pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, hardness, turbidity, alkalinity, sulphate, nitrate and phosphate of the pond water and its resultant effect on the fish health. Pond water samples were collected from four artificial fish farms titled (Farm 1, Farm 2, Farm 3 and Farm 4), which was analysed for its physiochemial properties using standard laboratory methods as designated by APHA. The result obtained revealed that the values of pH (6.06 to 6.79); temperature (27.30 to 28.70) °C and electrical conductivity (138.00 to 187.00) µs/cm were within the standard limit stipulated by WHO (World Health Organisation) and USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) for the four farms while parameters like alkalinity (44.00 to 220.00) mg/l, hardness (8.00 to 22.00) mg/ml, nitrate (1.82 to 9.31) mg/l, sulphate (4.00 to 162.00) mg/l, and phosphate (2.30 to 18.91) mg/l recorded varying values for the four different farms; with hardness and nitrate recording values below the stipulated guidelines and turbidity (60.00 to 93.00) NTU and total dissolved solids (60.00 to 93.00) mg/l recording values above WHO and USEPA regulatory guidelines. The results from the comparative analysis showed that Farm 3 had the most conducive conditions for fish cultivation as it recorded values within the stipulated guidelines. From this investigation, it is recommended that necessary steps should be undertaken to improve the water quality of the ponds in Farm 1, Farm 2 and Farm 4.
