Abstract The new calabar river (NCR) is very important to the people of Niger delta because of the pivotal role it plays in the economic development of the place with numerous companies within the vicinity of the river. The quality of water of the river felt threaten with this development. Therefore, some physicochemical parameters of the river were investigated to determine the pollution status of the river with particular reference to physicochemical parameters. Water samples were collected from the river and subjected to standard method of analysis as provided by APHA. The results of the analysis showed the following mean concentrations of the physicochemical parameters: pH (7.46), conductivity (3847.41µS/cm), TDS (417mg/l), turbidity (4.79NTU), salinity (2560.73mg/l), DO (5.8), SO42- (22.48mg/l), NO3– (20.39mg/l), PO42- (0.83mg/l), Cl– (1557.66mg/l) and total harness (40.29mg/l). Of the twelve physicochemical parameters investigated, only pH, PO42-, and total hardness were within the limits set by WHO. The investigation revealed that the NCR is polluted with regard to the physicochemical parameters. It is our view that the operating companies within the vicinity of the river to ensure that their wastes are properly treated before discharged and government should see as a matter of necessity that proper environmental audit is carried out on the river.
Keywords parameter, physicochemical, river, calabar, environment, audit, analysis, pollution, company, location, map, government.