WATER QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF NWAORIE RIVER FOR FISH SURVIVAL: A WET SEASON STUDY *Ukagwu, J.I 1 ; Onuoha, G.U.C 2 ; Asonye, N.C 1 and Ojulam, G.C 1 1 Agricultural Science Department, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri Imo State Nigeria 2 Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State Nigeria E-mail: ukagwujohn@yahoo.com (*Corresponding Author) Abstract: The water quality characteristics of Nwaorie river for fish survival was investigated during the wet season. The physico-chemical parameters and the microbial characteristics were determined and examined. The study was carried out in three different sample sites. Sample A, sample B and sample C which the source of the river. Samples were collected in triplicates and were analysed for over one hundred variables. The findings from the physico-chemical parameters from the different sample sites Dissolved Oxygen, chloride, hardness, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, alkalinity, biological oxygen demand showed no significant difference (P>0.05) from the source and fell below the standard limit suitable for fish survival. pH, temperature, total dissolved solid were significant (P<0.05) and fell within the standard limit suitable for fish survival though at different ranges. The microbial organisms identified in the river include Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp, pseudomonas aeruginosa, others are klebiseilla spp, proteus spp, Salmonella spp, Citobacter and Shigella at different concentrations. Keywords: Nwaorie river, Water quality, Wet season, Fish survival. Introduction Water quality is defined in terms of the chemistry, physical and biological content of water. The water quality of rivers and lakes changes with the seasons and geographical areas, even when there is pollution present [15]. They further observed there is no single measure that constitutes good water quality. This was buttressed by [18] who revealed that the chemistry of natural surface water is complex, and depends on the equilibrium reached with the normal physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the surrounding environment. Thus there can never be normal surface water quality. Every natural water will have a different composition. However, [24] recalls many factors which affect water quality as substances present in the air such as dust, volcanic gases, natural gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen) have International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O) and Technology, Vol. 3, No 5, 2014, 1817 – 1825 Received Sep 02, 2014 * Published Oct 2, 2014 * www.ijset.net