Water quality assessment is important in waterfront communities where surface waters support domestic activities, fisheries, transportation and other livelihoods. This study assessed selected physicochemical, nutrient and microbiological characteristics of water from Adiabo, Nsidung and Ikang waterfronts in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Water samples were analysed for pH, temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), colour, salinity, total hardness, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus, ammonia, faecal coliform count (FCC) and total coliform count (TCC). Descriptive statistics were expressed as mean ± standard deviation with 95% confidence intervals. Spatial differences were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with effect size estimated using eta squared (η²). Levene's test was used to assess homogeneity of variance, while Tukey's HSD was applied following significant ANOVA results. Welch ANOVA and Games–Howell procedures were specified as alternatives where the homogeneity assumption was violated. Mean pH ranged from 6.32 to 6.42, while turbidity ranged from 10.19 to 12.52 NTU and colour from 66.67 to 71.00 Pt-Co. The overall ANOVA showed no significant spatial differences in pH, temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, TDS, colour, total hardness, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia or total coliform count (p > 0.05). Phosphorus differed significantly among waterfronts, F(2,6) = 15.16, p = 0.005, η² = 0.835, with Ikang recording the highest concentration. Faecal coliform counts also differed significantly, F(2,6) = 24.58, p = 0.001, η² = 0.891, with Nsidung recording the highest count. Tukey HSD confirmed significant differences involving Ikang for phosphorus and Nsidung for FCC. The findings demonstrate persistent physical and microbiological water-quality concerns and support improved sanitation, wastewater management and integrated water-quality surveillance in Calabar waterfront communities. KEYWORDS: Calabar waterfronts; water quality; physicochemical parameters; nutrients; faecal coliforms; total coliforms; Nigeria