Assessment of the Total Annual Water Loss and Its Effect in Akpoha, And Ebonyi Rivers South Eastern Nigeria

This work assessed the annual water loss in Akpoha, and Ebonyi rivers. It adopted flood metrics of the three rivers for three years to determine the amount of water lost to the ocean within the period of study. This assessment tried to characterize the water yield and the volume of water lost by the respective rivers within the period of study. The evaluation also provided information on the flooding pattern in the affected floodplains given the volume of flood water available at each point. Akpoha, and Ebonyi Rivers were sampled at different points. The design of 4×4 factorial was applied to determine the relationship between sample points and parameters for control, 2014 and 2015 using analysis of variance for Completely Randomized Design. Mean values evaluated for significant differences using Fisher’s Least Significant Differences at P < 0.01.T-test was used for confirmation. The rivers sampled at four points, a1, a2, a3, a4 Akpoha. b1, b2, b3, b4.  Ebonyi. The main factors determined were discharge, flow velocity, width and depth. Results showed that the factors were highly statistically significant at 1% level and the confirmatory test via FLSD also agreed to that. Results of evaluation of water loss showed that the highest value of 743.01 m3/s was recorded in Akpoha in 2015 as against 26.63 m3/s in the control and 62.85 m3/s recorded in 2014. The discharge result showed that the control < 2014 < 2015 at a1.The discharge reflected the amount of water discharged by the water body at that point in the control, 2014 and 2015. The control indicated that a very low amount 23.22 m3/s was observed initially and that large amount of 743.01 m3/s was observed in 2015 while medium amount of 62.85 m3/s was recorded in 2014. The results were recommended to individuals living in floodplains to enable them exploit water benefits from the areas.

Keywords: Floodplain, Annual water loss in a river, Water yield, Flood and its relationship water loss.