Water quality index has been used in various researches for the assessment of\nwater quality for various uses and discharges into the environment. The purpose\nof this study was to determine the water quality index of the effluent\nfrom waste stabilisation ponds and 400 m beyond discharge point. This was\nachieved by evaluating concentrations of seven parameters from soil, eleven\nphysiochemical parameters from effluent and four microbiological parameters.\nCorresponding water quality indices calculated from microbiological\nparameters were 854, 142, 96 and 1539 respectively, at sites 1, 2, 3 and 4.\nReductions of magnesium, zinc, lead, sodium adsorption ratio, sodium and\nelectrical conductivity in soil samples at site 4 were 15.5%, 57%, 81.6%,\n93.5%, 93.5% and 99% respectively. The percentage increases were 21.4% and\n185% respectively, for calcium and iron ions. It can be concluded that the\nwater quality index of the waste stabilisation ponds is unsuitable for discharge\ninto the environment. However, the results revealed improved quality downstream\nof discharge point.
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