Assessment of the water quality of the Niger River in Bamako, Mali, based on the Water Quality Index

Abstract The Niger River, threatened by human activities, is the main drinking water source for population of Bamako city. This study assesses trend River pollution in using Water Quality Index (WQI). Fourteen parameters, namely Turbidity, Potential Hydrogen (pH), Electrical Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, Total Solids, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical (COD), Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonium, Phosphate, Sulphate, Chloride and Copper, were employed to characterise quality during period from 2016 2020. Parameters measured at 15 sampling locations. High values pH high concentrations BOD5, COD, Ammonium Phosphates recorded. results showed that was good 4 months poor 5 dry season a low flow period. Moreover, 3 wet calculated WQI average ranged 75 100, indicating very upstream downstream Therefore, polluted cannot be used or industrial uses without any treatment.