The Impact of Catfish Farming on Water Quality of Stream in Lagos State, Nigeria

This paper advocates habitat conservation and ecological studies with special reference to the physico-chemical characteristics of Majidun stream. The aim of this study was to assess the potential impact of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) effluents on water quality of stream where five catfish farms are localized. The constituents monitored include water temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), total alkalinity, total hardness and chloride. Monthly samples were taken from upstream (S1) and the catfish farm effluents discharged site (S2) and downstream (S3, S4) for six months. Physical and chemical properties of water samples were determined in accordance with the American Public Health Association standards. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. The mean values water quality parameters for the stream at effluents discharged site and Non-effluents discharged site indicated that they contained: Water temperature (24.6±0.2, 24.2±0.1), Specific conductance (408.6±44.3, 358.4±22.4 mho/cm), Turbidity (27.5±10.3, 21.3±4.2 NTU), TSS (27.1±12.6, 19.3±5.5 mg/l), Total Alkalinity (24.6±8.6, 18.6±5.8 mg/l), Total hardness (29.8±14.2, 22.1± 0.02 mg/l) and Chloride (20.5±4.5, 14.3±2.8 mg/l) respectively and were significantly different (p≤ 0.05). If the present conditions continue for a long period, Majidun stream may soon become ecologically unbalance to the aquatic ecosystem.