Warri Refinery Operations and Its Effects on Ubeji Creek

The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) is an industrial complex of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporarion (NNPC) downstream sector, located between Ekpan and Ubeji communities of Delta state of Nigeria at a surface location of 366,140.12 Easting and 174,200.08 in Northing. The research was to assess the impact of the Warri Refinery operations on Ubeji creek, the nearest water body to the refinery. Water samples were collected from WRPC treated wastewater effluent, Ubeji creek and Agbaro river (set up as the control) about 25 kilometers away from WRPC and analyzed considering such parameters as the physico-chemical properties, COD, BOD, and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn). The results from the study revealed that the values of some of the physico-chemical parameters of the treated wastewater effluent discharged exceeded the limits set by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and WHO. The values for several other physico-chemical parameters were within regulatory limits. The results of some of the parameters determined for the treated effluent receiving water body (Ubeji Creek) renders the water unsuitable for domestic use. It was observed that the upstream of the creek terminal with the community receives reasonable quantities of assorted solid waste from the community residents which suggests other sources of pollution of the creek beside the refinery’s effluent. The results from the study also further underscores the need for continuous monitoring of the quality of surface water bodies especially in settlements and rural communities bordering areas with high industrial activities.