The Physico-Chemical Quality of Groundwater in Geidam, Nigeria

DOI : 10.17577/IJERTV1IS7053

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The Physico-Chemical Quality of Groundwater in Geidam, Nigeria

M. Hijab, Z. A. Belel, and A. K. Kachalla

Abstract The objective of this work is to give out information on the physical and chemical properties of groundwater in Geidan in order to appreciate the impacts of anthropogenic actions on the quality of groundwater. This has been carried out by collecting fifteen water samples from boreholes and analyzed using DR 2000 spectrophotometer, flame photometer and titrimetric method. The results indicate that the mean concentration of Chromium hexavalent exceeded WHO standards. This was attributed to groundwater coming into contact with sewage and waste sourced from human activities. The study indicates that the water is not suitable for human consumption without treatment.

KeywordsGroundwater quality, Geidam, Physic-chemical, parameters.

D

  1. INTRODUCTION

    RINKING water has always been a major issue in many developing countries, in Nigeria, many of the rural populace do not have access to adequate water and therefore, depend on other alternatives like wells for domestic use. The assessment of groundwater quality status is important for socio-economic development of any region of the world. The determination of groundwater quality for human consumption is important for the well-being of the ever increasing population. Good quality water will ensure the sustainability of socio-economic development, as the government priority is shifted to other sectors of the economy, rather than channeling the resources towards combating outbreaks of water borne diseases due to consumption of contaminated groundwater. Groundwater quality depends, to some extent, on its chemical composition [1] which may be modified by natural and anthropogenic sources. Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, has affected the availability and quality of groundwater due to waste disposal practice,

    especially in urban areas.

    Once groundwater is contaminated, its quality cannot be restored by stopping the pollutants from source [2]. As groundwater has a huge potential to ensure future demand for water, it is important that human activities on the surface do not negatively affect the precious resource [3]. Poor environmental management creates havoc on the water supply and compounds public health [4]. It was emphasized [5] on the

    M. Hijab, is with the Department of Civil Engineering, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola. Adamawa State, Nigeria

    Z. A. Belel is with the Department of Civil Engineering, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola. Adamawa State, Nigeria

    A. K. Kachalla is with Department of Civil Engineering, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola. Adamawa State, Nigeria.

    importance of groundwater globally as a source for human consumption and changes in quality with subsequent contamination can, undoubtedly, affect human health. Groundwater quality is mainly controlled by the range and type of human influence as well as geochemical, physical and biological processes occurring in the ground [6]. It therefore becomes imperative to regularly monitor the quality of the water and device ways to perfect it [7].

    Water quality index or catalog is one of the most effective tools to communicate information on the quality of water to the concerned citizens and policy makers [2,7]. It, thus, becomes important to assess the quality of water for monitoring and management purposes. Water quality indicators reflect the composite influence of different water quality parameters. This is calculated from the point of view of the suitability of groundwater for human consumption. In many developing countries, availability of water has become a critical and urgent problem and it is a matter of great concern to families and communities depending on non-public water supply system. Increase in human population has exerted an enormous pressure on the provision of safe drinking water.

    Unsafe water is a global public health threat, placing persons

    at risk for a host of diarrheal and other diseases as well as chemical intoxication [8]. Unsanitary water particularly has devastating effects on young children in the developing world. Studies had also shown that the principal objectives of municipal water are the production and the distribution of safe water that is fit for human consumption. This study examines the physio-chemical quality of borehole water in Geidam town of Yobe state in Nigeria.

  2. STUDY AREA

    Geidam is one of the seventeen local governments of Yobe State in Nigeria. It is located on latitude 120 5433N and longitude 110 55 21E. Geidam town is its capital with a population of about 89,595 (9). The major climatic seasons are rainy season which begins in March or April and ends in October and the dry season which begins in November and ends in March or April. Farming is the main occupation of the people and groundwater is the main water source for both irrigation and domestic uses during dry seasons. The degradation of the water sources due to human activities does not cause any concern to the rural populace as they are hardly aware of the negative impacts of his actions on the sources of water supply.

  3. METHODOLOGY

    Fifteen (15) water samples were collected from boreholes in the study area (Fig. 1). The sample containers were rinsed two to three times in the field with the representative groundwater according to Rajkumar [9]. The samples were collected from existing boreholes for water supply according to Chilton [10] method. Positions of the monitoring boreholes were determined using the global positioning system (Table 1.0). The field parameters such as: pH, EC and TDS were measured in the field using PH meter (Wagtech), and conductivity/TDS meter (HACH). The chemical parameters were analyzed using spectrophotometer (Model DR2000, USA), flame photometer (ELE International) and titrimetric method. The water samples were analyzed at water quality control laboratory of the Yobe State water corporation. All the samples were analyzed within 48 hours of collection.

  4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

    A survey of physical and chemical parameters is presented on table 2, with the standards of the World Health Organization [11]. Assessment of water quality by its chemistry includes measures of elements and molecules

    TABLE I

    GPS READINGS OF THE SELECTED FIFTEEN SITES IN THE STUDY AREA

    Location Name Code N E Elevation

    (m)

    Filin Idi*

    BH1

    12053.853

    11056.225

    334.3

    Fulatari M. D.

    BH2

    12053.337

    11056.218

    325.8

    Mosque*

    G.T.C. Admin*

    BH3

    12054.387

    11056.354

    324.0

    G.T.C. Quarters*

    BH4

    12053.058

    11056.465

    326.7

    General Hospital

    BH5

    12053.266

    11055.260

    301.8

    Main*

    Hausari Kankare*

    BH6

    12053.408

    11055.690

    327.0

    Kusurmari Main*

    BH7

    12052.933

    11055.753

    324.4

    Low-course Main*/p>

    BH8

    12052.682

    11055.450

    331.1

    Maikeli Fulatari

    BH9

    12053.231

    11055.950

    326.3

    Alhaji Sani

    BH10

    12052.888

    11055.911

    327.1

    Mohammed Babin

    BH11

    12053.259

    11055.635

    315.8

    Filin Ajari*

    BH12

    12053.919

    11055.727

    327.0

    Musa Tashan Maini

    BH13

    12053.939

    11055.354

    322.5

    Ngadala Primary

    BH14

    12054.340

    1105.496

    334.4

    School*

    Nuri 1

    BH15

    12053.633

    11055.125

    331.4

    were below the WHO limits. High calcium concentration above 10 mg/l leads to the development of kidney stones in

    TABLE II

    SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

    dissolved or suspended in water. Chemical measures can be used to directly detect pollutants and imbalances within the ecosystem. Most chemicals from water sources are of health concern in humans as a result of exposure through drinking. Commonly measured chemical parameters include arsenic, cadmium, calcium, chloride, copper, fluoride, total hardness, nitrate, and potassium [12]. From the results, the ranges and means of the physical and chemical parameters revealed temperature range from 29.500C to 340C and mean of 31.60C, pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.3 with average of 6.8 thus indicating acidic to neutral, and mean value indicates a very slight acidic condition. TDS and Electrical conductivity vary from 60mg/l o 150mg/l and 120µS/cm to 300 µS/cm with mean values of 98.67mg/l and 196 µS/cm respectively. Hardness ranges from 20mg/l to 100mg/l with mean value of 54.8mg/l. Hardness ranging from 0-75mg/l is classified as soft; 75-150mg/l as moderate; 150-300mg/l as hard and above 300mg/l as very

    Temp

    29.50

    29.50

    29.50

    .

    pH

    6.50

    7.30

    6.83

    0.26095

    6.5-9.2

    TDS

    60.00

    150.00

    98.66

    26.62348

    0-500

    EC

    120.00

    300.00

    196.00

    54.22177

    0-500

    Hardness

    20.00

    100.00

    54.86

    25.65392

    0-1.0

    Calcium

    0.00

    0.10

    0.011

    0.02748

    0-75

    Magnesium

    0.40

    0.68

    0.521

    0.08348

    0-50

    Sodium

    28.60

    55.60

    37.96

    7.08848

    0-200

    Potassium

    11.70

    41.50

    23.49

    9.34976

    0-200

    Chloride

    8.60

    22.40

    14.29

    4.06720

    0-200

    Sulphate

    9.00

    49.00

    18.80

    11.23261

    0-250

    Nitrate

    0.00

    0.30

    0.102

    0.11416

    40-70

    Fluoride

    0.00

    0.80

    0.260

    0.27723

    0-1.5

    Iron

    0.00

    7.50

    2.413

    2.15965

    0-1.0

    Bicarbonate

    80.00

    180.00

    114.53

    27.46392

    0-500

    Parameters Minimum Maximum Mean

    sensitive people [14].

    Standard Deviation

    WHO, 2004

    hard [13]. Based on the above classification the water can be classified on the average as soft.

    The results of the cat ions indicate that Sodium and Potassium concentrations vary from 28.6 to55.60 mg/l and

    11.70 to 41.50 mg/l with mean values of 37.9 and 23.5 mg/l respectively. Exposure to increased concentration (>100 mg/l) of potassium leads to disruption of heart and muscular function, irritation of the mucous membranes and also causes nausea and vomiting [14].Calcium and Magnesium vary from

    0.0 to 0,1 mg/l and 0.4 to 0.68 mg/l with mean values of 0.011 and 0.52 mg/l respectively. All the mean values of the cat ions

    The value of the anions revealed that Chloride and Sulphate concentration varied from 8.6 to 22.4 mg/l and from 9.0 to

    49.0 mg/l with mean values of 14.3 and 18.8 mg/l respectively. The mean values were below the recommended limits. Its high concentrations impart a salty taste to water and accelerate corrosion of metals. In fresh water, its concentration is less than 10 mg/l. Health effects such as nausea and vomiting may occur at concentration above 1200 mg/l in sensitive individuals [14]. Bicarbonate and Nitrate concentrations ranged from 80 to 180 mg/l and 0.0 to 0.30 mg/l with mean values of 114.5 and 0.102 mg/l respectively. The mean values were below the desirable limits. The values of Chromium hexavalent and Iron range from 0.01 to 0.80 mg/l and 0.00 to

    7.5 mg/l with mean values of 0.14 and 2.41 mg/l respectively.

    The mean value of Chromium hexavalent is above the

    recommended limits. This elevated level may have been due to inflow of contaminated water into groundwater. The mean value of Iron is below the WHO recommended limits. Fluoride concentration varied from 0.0 to 0.8 mg/l with mean value of

    0.26 mg/l. the mean value is below the WHO recommended limits. Prolonged intake of fluoride (>1.5 mg/l) can damage the skeleton, cause brittle bones and lead to crippling [14]

    Fig. 1.0 Sketch Map of Geidam Town showing the borehole locations

  5. CONCLUSION

The following conclusions can be drawn from this Study;

  1. The concentrations of physical and chemical parameters were mostly below the WHO permissible limits.

  2. The concentration of chromium hexavalent is above the recommended limit on the average. The elevated levels can be linked to anthropogenic sources such as domestic and public wastes as well as sanitary conditions in the area.

  3. Improvement on sanitation and controlled waste disposal practice can minimize groundwater quality degradation in the area.

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  3. P.R. Sarukkalige. Impact of land use on groundwater quality in Western Australia. Improving Integrated Surface and Groundwater Resources Management in a Vulnerable and Changing World (proc. of JS .3 at the Joint IAHS & IAH Convention, Hyderabad, India, September 2009. IAHS Publ. pp. 136-142.

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  8. J. M.Hughes, and J. P.Koplan,. Saving Lives through Global Safe Water. Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases. 11(10): 1636-1637. 2005.

  9. N. Rajkumar , T. Subramani and L. Elonga. Groundwater water contamination due to municipal solid waste disposal-A GIS based study in Eroda city. Int. J. of Environ Sci. 1(1): 39-55. 2010.

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  11. World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality Volume 1, Recommendations (3rd Edition). Geneva, Switzerland. 2004.

  12. C. Kreger. Water quality Assessment: Overview Exploring the Environment Water Quality, Wheeling Jesuit University/NASA Classroom of the Future, Accessed 18 August 2004, pages 1-2.

  13. A. Nur. J.M. Ishaku and J.A. Bulus. Application of chemometric Techniques in Groundwater quality Investigation in Angwere Area Jos North-central Nigeria. International journal of earth sciences and Engineering. 4(6): 965-972. 2011.

  14. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), Department of Health, Water Research Commission, Quality of Domestic Water Supplies, Volume 3, Analysis Guide, 2001.

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