Hydrogeology of Uburu and Environs, Southern Eastern, Nigeria

Communication in Physical Sciences 2018, 3(1):67-75 Authors: Obialo Solomon Onwuka,Elochukwu Pearl Echezona and Chimankpam Kenneth Ezugwu Received 20 November2018/Accepted 26 December 2018 Uburu is a rural settlement bounded within latitudes 6˚ 00’N and 6˚ 05’N, and longitudes 7˚ 40’E and 7˚ 45’E. Water quality in Uburu area of southeastern Nigeria was investigated, applying multivariate Statgraphics Centurion XVII, ArcGIS 10.2.2 and Surfer 10 software on hydrochemical and bacteriological data. 10 water samples, ranging from boreholes, hand dug wells and surface waters were collected, to unravel the major factor controlling water quality in the study area. The study area is underlain by Abakaliki Shale, which comprises bluish grey shales with fine to medium to coarse grained sandstones. Physico-chemical and bacteriological analyses were used to assess the influence of geogenic and anthropogenic processes on the groundwater quality. Results suggest that the groundwater is acidic, hard and salty, due to salt water intrusion in the Uburu area. The water types are mainly Na++K+ and S042- Cl–. According to the W.H.O (2017) standards, the levels of the physico-chemical parameters in the groundwater indicate that the water is acceptable for domestic use; but the bacteriological analysis shows high counts of Escherichia coliform (E.coli) bacteria, which indicates poor sanitary conditions in the study area. It will be safe, therefore, to suggest that the water be treated before it is used for drinking and preparation of food, in order to avoid incidences of gastrointestinal diseases caused by the ingestion of water contaminated by faecal matters. The groundwater and surface water cluster analysis unraveled that rock mineral dissolution, sewage and agricultural waste contaminations, are the main factors controlling the water chemistry in the are

Multivariate and Pollution Assessment of Enugu Industrial Layout, Southeastern Nigeria

This research assesses the heavy metals pollution in the soil and water qualities in Emene and its environs, which is well known for its large industrial activities in South-Eastern Nigeria, using multivariate and pollution load assessment techniques. The sampling was conducted in both water and soils. Sixteen water samples were fetched from an industrial effluent (IEF), surface and groundwater (SW and HDW) and control samples (CTR). At different five industrial sites, a collection of soil samples were made, while two samples which serves as a control were collected far away from the industrial site.. The extent of the sediment pollution was assessed; using pollution load index (PLI). A positive correlation was observed with Fe, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni. The extracted results of the correlation matrix suggest that the dominant ions in the water (As and Fe, Pb and Fe, Cr and Fe, Cu and Fe, Pb and As, Cr and As, Cu and As, Cr and Pb, Cd and Zn, Ni and Zn, Cu and Cr) were derived from the same source of enrichment. In addition to this, a cluster analysis depicts a set of three clusters from a 13 sampling locations based on the similarities of water quality features. The pollution load index (PLI), showed that all locations have PLI > 1 and were polluted. The index values of the heavy metals for Igeo values shows a range which indicates that the industrial soils are unpolluted with Cu and Ni, in the degree of unpolluted to moderately polluted, it has Cr, Fe and Zn while unpolluted to highly polluted has; Pb and Mn. As and Cd shows a level from unpolluted to very highly polluted.. Based on the average Igeo values of the heavy metals, the industrial soils of the study area are unpolluted with Cr, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pb and Zn; and highly polluted with As, Fe and Cd. The data also indicate that the degree of enrichment of each of the heavy metal reflects its pollution intensity Keywords: Cluster analysis, Contamination factor, Control samples, Emene Town, Pollution load index, DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-9-03 Publication date: November 30th 202

Assessment of the impact of onsite sanitary sewage system and agricultural wastes on groundwater quality in Ikem and its environs, south-eastern Nigeria

Physicochemical, multivariate, and bacteriological analyses were integrated to assess the impact of onsite sanitary sewage and agricultural waste on groundwater quality in Ikem and its environs. Results of the physicochemical analysis suggest that groundwater samples in the study area are acidic, with very few samples having electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids above WHO standard for drinking water. The abundance of the major ions are in the following order: Ca2+˃Mg2+˃K+˃Na+˃ Cl− = PO42- ˃NO3−˃HCO3−˃SO42-. Fifty-five percent of the stiff plot shows Ca2+ – Cl− water type and 45% of the stiff shows Na++ K+ – Cl− water type. The dominant hydrochemical facies in the study area are Ca2+–Mg2+–Cl−SO42- (83%) and Na++ K+ and SO42- + Cl− (17%). Durov and Piper diagrams illustrated that simple mineral dissolution and ion exchange processes are mainly responsible for variation in the hydrogeochemistry. Bacteriological analysis shows that the groundwater is contaminated with faecal waste. The principal component analysis, correlation, and cluster analysis reflect Faecal matter contamination through onsite sanitary sewage system, leaching of agricultural waste into the groundwater and weathering and dissolution of host rocks. Groundwater flow direction is local and controlled by topographic highs, weathering and fracturing of the host rock in the study area