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Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area Southeastern Nigeria

Received: 13 June 2015     Accepted: 19 June 2015     Published: 2 July 2015
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Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the spatio-temporal variation of groundwater quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area, Southeastern Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of groundwater samples in space and time and to ascertain the quality of groundwater using the parameter in comparison with WHO permissible limits. A total of five (5) groundwater samples were collected in triplicates from boreholes located at Ninth Mile Corner, Obioma, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo at two different time scales. The samples were collected in April (before the onset of rainy season) and September (before the cessation of rainy season), in 2014. The groundwater samples were analyzed in the laboratory for their physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics. On comparing the results with standard values recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), it was discovered that most of the groundwater samples were within permissible limits with slight variation across the locations and in seasons. However, pH of the groundwater samples were not within the permissible limit of 6.50mg/l – 8.50mg/l in four different locations which are Ninth Mile Corner, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo with pH values of 5.60, 6.20, 5.00 and 5.00. Total hardness of the groundwater samples with values of 12.00mg/l, 58.50mg/l, 45.00mg/l, 15.50mg/l and 11.70mg/l in the dry season and 8.00mg/l, 59.00mg/l, 43.00mg/l, 12.00mg/l and 7.00mg/l respectively in the rainy season were not within the permissible limit of 100.00mg/l – 200.00mg/l in all the locations and in the seasons for Ninth Mile Corner, Obioma, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo respectively. Magnesium hardness of the groundwater samples with values ranging from 1.50mg/l - 1.65 in the dry season and 5.60mg/l - 6.80mg/l respectively in the rainy season were slightly above the permissible limit of 1.00mg/l in all the locations and in seasons. Total coliform were absent in all the locations during the dry season and was slightly in excess during the rainy season at 9th Mile Corner and Abor with a value of 4.00 per 100ml against the permissible limit 3.00. The study found out that minimal treatment is required in the study area and recommends continuous monitoring of the groundwater supply to keep the quality in check.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12
Page(s) 210-217
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Groundwater Quality, Spatio-Temporal Variation, Udi-EzeaguWatershed, SE Nigeria

References
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[2] APHA, AWWA and WEF, (2012) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste water, 22nd Edition, Washington, DC.
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[8] Helena B., Pardon R., Vega M., Barrado E., Fernandez J. M. and Fernandez L.,(2002) Temporal Evolution of Groundwater Composition in an Alluvial Aquifer (Pisuerga River, Spain) by Principal Component Analysis Water Resources, 34(3): 807 – 816.
[9] Kortatsi B.K (2007) Hydrochemical Framework of Groundwater in the Anakobra Basin, Ghana Journal of Aquatic Geochemistry, 1(3): 41 – 74.
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[12] Njanje T.N., Adamu C. I., Ntekim EEU, Ugbaja A.N., Nejip., Nfor E.N., (2010) Influence of Mine Drainage on Water Quality Along River Nyaba in Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental in Science and Technology, 4(3): 132 -144.
[13] Offodile, M. E., (2002) Groundwater Study and Development in Nigeria. 2nd Edition. Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd, Jos, 453.
[14] Ong, C. N., Grandjean, A. C., Heaney, R. P., (2009) The Mineral Com position of Water and its Contributions to Calcium and Magnesium Intake. In Calcium and Magnesium in Drinking-Water; Public Health Significance Geneva,World Health Organization 36-58.
[15] Onianwa, P. c., Jaiyeola, O. M., Egekenze, R. N (2001) Heavy Metals Contamination of Top Soils in the Vicinities of Auto-repair Workshops, Gas Stations and Motor Parks in a Nigeria City. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, 84(1-4): 33 – 39.
[16] Onwuka, S. O., Ezeh, C. S. and Ekwe, A. C. (2010) Application of Groundwater Technique in the Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Udi and its Environs, South-eastern, Nigeria. Journal of Earth Environmental Sciences, 3(2): 63 – 78.
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    Tonia Nkiru Nwobodo, Martin Atu Ngozika Anikwe, Kevin Ejike Chukwu. (2015). Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area Southeastern Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 3(4), 210-217. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12

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    Tonia Nkiru Nwobodo; Martin Atu Ngozika Anikwe; Kevin Ejike Chukwu. Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area Southeastern Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2015, 3(4), 210-217. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12

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    AMA Style

    Tonia Nkiru Nwobodo, Martin Atu Ngozika Anikwe, Kevin Ejike Chukwu. Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area Southeastern Nigeria. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2015;3(4):210-217. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12,
      author = {Tonia Nkiru Nwobodo and Martin Atu Ngozika Anikwe and Kevin Ejike Chukwu},
      title = {Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area Southeastern Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {210-217},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150304.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20150304.12},
      abstract = {This study was carried out to assess the spatio-temporal variation of groundwater quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area, Southeastern Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of groundwater samples in space and time and to ascertain the quality of groundwater using the parameter in comparison with WHO permissible limits. A total of five (5) groundwater samples were collected in triplicates from boreholes located at Ninth Mile Corner, Obioma, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo at two different time scales. The samples were collected in April (before the onset of rainy season) and September (before the cessation of rainy season), in 2014. The groundwater samples were analyzed in the laboratory for their physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics. On comparing the results with standard values recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), it was discovered that most of the groundwater samples were within permissible limits with slight variation across the locations and in seasons. However, pH of the groundwater samples were not within the permissible limit of 6.50mg/l – 8.50mg/l in four different locations which are Ninth Mile Corner, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo with pH values of 5.60, 6.20, 5.00 and 5.00. Total hardness of the groundwater samples with values of 12.00mg/l, 58.50mg/l, 45.00mg/l, 15.50mg/l and 11.70mg/l in the dry season and 8.00mg/l, 59.00mg/l, 43.00mg/l, 12.00mg/l and 7.00mg/l respectively in the rainy season were not within the permissible limit of 100.00mg/l – 200.00mg/l in all the locations and in the seasons for Ninth Mile Corner, Obioma, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo respectively. Magnesium hardness of the groundwater samples with values ranging from 1.50mg/l - 1.65 in the dry season and 5.60mg/l - 6.80mg/l respectively in the rainy season were slightly above the permissible limit of 1.00mg/l in all the locations and in seasons. Total coliform were absent in all the locations during the dry season and was slightly in excess during the rainy season at 9th Mile Corner and Abor with a value of 4.00 per 100ml against the permissible limit 3.00. The study found out that minimal treatment is required in the study area and recommends continuous monitoring of the groundwater supply to keep the quality in check.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AU  - Martin Atu Ngozika Anikwe
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    AB  - This study was carried out to assess the spatio-temporal variation of groundwater quality in Udi-Ezeagu Watershed, Enugu Area, Southeastern Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of groundwater samples in space and time and to ascertain the quality of groundwater using the parameter in comparison with WHO permissible limits. A total of five (5) groundwater samples were collected in triplicates from boreholes located at Ninth Mile Corner, Obioma, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo at two different time scales. The samples were collected in April (before the onset of rainy season) and September (before the cessation of rainy season), in 2014. The groundwater samples were analyzed in the laboratory for their physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics. On comparing the results with standard values recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), it was discovered that most of the groundwater samples were within permissible limits with slight variation across the locations and in seasons. However, pH of the groundwater samples were not within the permissible limit of 6.50mg/l – 8.50mg/l in four different locations which are Ninth Mile Corner, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo with pH values of 5.60, 6.20, 5.00 and 5.00. Total hardness of the groundwater samples with values of 12.00mg/l, 58.50mg/l, 45.00mg/l, 15.50mg/l and 11.70mg/l in the dry season and 8.00mg/l, 59.00mg/l, 43.00mg/l, 12.00mg/l and 7.00mg/l respectively in the rainy season were not within the permissible limit of 100.00mg/l – 200.00mg/l in all the locations and in the seasons for Ninth Mile Corner, Obioma, Umuase, Abor and Akama-Amankwo respectively. Magnesium hardness of the groundwater samples with values ranging from 1.50mg/l - 1.65 in the dry season and 5.60mg/l - 6.80mg/l respectively in the rainy season were slightly above the permissible limit of 1.00mg/l in all the locations and in seasons. Total coliform were absent in all the locations during the dry season and was slightly in excess during the rainy season at 9th Mile Corner and Abor with a value of 4.00 per 100ml against the permissible limit 3.00. The study found out that minimal treatment is required in the study area and recommends continuous monitoring of the groundwater supply to keep the quality in check.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geography and Meteorology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria

  • Department of Agronomy and Ecological Management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria

  • Department of Geography and Meteorology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria

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