This study on the heavy metal content of a local drinking water source in South-east Nigeria was carried out in 3 sampling stations between May 2019 and October 2019. Pollution indices and health risk assessment for non-carcinogenic were used to check the water’s suitability for human consumption. The indices were heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and Contamination Index (Cd). Eight metals were evaluated with standard methods and compared with Nigerian and WHO drinking water standards. Some metals like iron, lead and cadmium exceeded the recommended limits. The stations Heavy Metal Pollution Index ranged between 511.4 and 512.4 while the monthly values ranged between 279.8 and 547.6; all exceeding the threshold value of 100. Contamination Index ranged between 3.12 and 3.32 (stations) and -0.80 to 4.80 (month) indicating high contamination potential and low to high contamination potentials respectively. All the hazard indices also exceeded one (1). Stations 1 and 2 were higher in all the indices. All the indices were linked the high values of iron, lead and cadmium, influenced by sand mining activities. The pollution indices and Health Risk Assessment converged to show that the waters of Iyiakwu River are not fit for human consumption. The children are more vulnerable since it the main source of drinking water in the area.

The changes in diatom assemblages along an urban-to-rural gradient were characterized to assess the ecological status of the Sai Gon River, Vietnam. Diatoms and physico-chemical variables were measured at 10 stations during dry and rainy season. One-way ANOVA showed that diatom metrics and physicochemical variables were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the upper course sites and both the middle- and the lower sites. However, no significant differences were observed between the middle course sites and the lower course sites. Achnanthidium minutissimum and A. exigua were potential indicators of low nutrient in the upper course sites; Melosira granulata and Navicula viridula were preferred moderately eutrophic water in the middle course sites; while Navicula cryptocephala and Nitzschia palea were tolerant to very heavy pollution and dominant in the lower course sites. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) results showed that concentration of TSS, TN, TP, BOD5 and COD were the most important factors in structuring benthic diatom communities in the Sai Gon River. The results of this study indicated that diatom community was sensitive to changes in urban condition and could be used as an indicator of urbanization.