CHARACTERIZATION OF POLLUTION HAZARDS OF SELECTED SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS IN BIDA CATCHMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Water quality analysis was done for both surface and groundwater samples. For surface water, samples were taken from the upstream; middle; and downstream sections of the river Landzun. Similarly, for groundwater, samples were collected from specific locations around the Bida catchment area of Niger State, Nigeria such in a manner to allow for effective spread. Water samples for both surface and underground regimes were collected during the dry wet seasons. Laboratory analysis was used to evaluate some water quality parameters. The laboratory results were subjected to further statistical test to be able to objectively determine acceptance or rejection, in other words, critical thresholds. Based on the results, for wet season surface water, maximum values of parameters fell within the recommended limit of WHO (2004) and FAO (2000) for drinking and irrigation water quality. Total hardness (110.10mg/l) and total dissolved solids (5546.4mg/l) were higher than acceptable limit of WHO (2004) and FAO (2000) standards. Total coliform (1.00mg/l – 56.00mg/l) was also above WHO (2004) standards for drinking water quality. Similarly, maximum values of various parameters at dry season fell within the permissible limit of WHO (2004) standard. Nitrate (71.60mg/l) and magnesium hardness (64.00mg/l) were higher than WHO (2004) standard. Total coliform (3.00mg/l – 140.00mg/l) and E-coli(0 – 22.00mg/l) were also higher than the recommended limit of WHO (2004) standard. For surface water at wet season, maximum values of various parameters fell within the acceptable limit by WHO (2004) standard for drinking  water quality.  Total  coliform  (340.00mg/l  –  1060.00mg/l) and  E-coli (20.00mg/l – 60.00mg/l) were above recommended limit by WHO (2004) standards. However, maximum values of various parameters at dry season, fell within acceptable limit by WHO (2004) and FAO (2000) standards. Turbidity (22.60mg/l – 57.70mg/l) was higher than acceptable limit of WHO (2004) for drinking water quality. Based on the findings, groundwater at both wet and dry seasons were not suitable for domestic and agricultural purposes. Similarly, surface water at wet season was not suitable for use, but dry season surface water was suitable since turbidity has no negative impact on human health. Hence, it was recommended that adequate measures like building of water treatment plants should be ensured for sustainable quality water in the study area; the habit of waste water and solid waste carelessly exposed in the area should be discouraged through enlightenment campaign and by providing improved methods of using dustbins for collecting solid wastes and suck-away pits dug far away (at least 20m) from groundwater systems for collecting waste water.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0        INTRODUCTION

1.1.      Background to the Study

Characterization of water quality simply represents the physical parameters (colour; taste; odour; temperature; and turbidity), chemical parameters (Alkalinity; Calcium Hardness; Magnesium Hardness; Calcium ion; Potassium; and trace elements) and bacteriological parameters (E-Coli and Feacal Coliform). According to WHO, an estimation was made that about 80% of water is waste which is unfit for domestic; agricultural; and industrial purposes (Guru et al., 2011). The improper management of water systems may cause serious problems in availability and quality of water (Guru et al., 2011).

In developing countries only a small proportion of the waste produced by sewered communities is treated. Developing country governments and regulatory agencies, as well as local authorities (which may be city or town councils, or specific waste water treatment authorities, or more generally water and sewerage authorities), need to understand that domestic and other wastewaters require treatment before discharge or, preferably, re-use in agriculture and/or aquaculture (Duncan, 2003). Municipal wastewater effluents may contain a number of toxic elements including heavy metals, because under practical conditions wastes from many small and informal industrial sites are directly discharged into the common sewer system. These toxic elements are normally present in small amounts and, hence, they are called trace elements. Some of them may be removed during the treatment process but others will persist and could present phytotoxic problems. Thus, municipal wastewater effluents should be checked for trace elements toxicity hazards, particularly when trace elements contamination is suspected (Pescod, 1992). Open dumps are the oldest and the most common way of disposing solid wastes, although, in recent years thousands have been closed, many are still being used. In many cases, they are located wherever land is available, without regard to safety, health hazard, and aesthetic degradation. The waste is often piled up as high as equipment allows. In some instances, the refuse was ignited and allowed to burn. In others, the refuse was periodically leveled and compacted. As a general rule, open dumps tend to create a nuisance by being unsightly, breeding pests, creating a health hazard, polluting the air, and sometimes polluting groundwater and surface water (Keller, 1982).

Landfill is an engineered waste disposal site facility with specific pollution control technologies designed to minimize potential impacts. Landfills are usually either placed above ground or contained within quarries, and pits. Landfills are sources of groundwater and soil pollution due to the production of leachate and its migration through refuse (Chistensen and Stegmann, 1992). Recent times, much importance has been made with regards to environmental quality which is main focus on water because of its importance in maintaining the human health and health of the ecosystem. Fresh resource is becoming day by day at the faster rate of deterioration of the water quality as is now a global problem. Direct contamination of surface water with metals in discharges from mining, smelting and industrial manufacturing, is a long standing phenomenon. Today, there is trace contamination not only of surface water but also of groundwater bodies, which are susceptible to leaching from waste dumps, mine tailing and industrial production sites (Subba, 2011). These impurities may give water a bad taste, color, odor or turbidity and causes hardness, corrosiveness, staining or frothing (Vollenwinder, 1998). Groundwater is an increasingly important resource all over the world. The term ground water is usually reserved for the sub- surface water that occur beneath the water table in soils and geologic formation that are fully saturated (Parvesh, 2003). It supports drinking water supply; livestock needs, irrigation, industrial and many commercial activities (Veslind, 1993). Groundwater is generally less susceptible to contamination and pollution when compared to surface water bodies (Zaman, 2002). Also, the natural impurities in rainfall which replenish ground water systems get removed while infiltrating through soil strata (Veslind, 1993).

However, ground water can also be contaminated by naturally occurring sources. Soil and geologic formation containing high levels of heavy metals can leach those metals into groundwater. This can be aggravated by over pumping wells, particularly, for agriculture (Gay and Proop, 1993). Pollution caused by fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture, often dispersed over large areas, is a great threat to fresh groundwater ecosystems. Pollution of groundwater due to industrial effluents and municipal waste in water bodies is another major concern in many cities and industrial clusters. Groundwater is very difficult to remediate, except in small defined areas and therefore, the emphasis has to be on prevention.

1.2.      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The general importance of water cannot be over-emphasized because man’s prime need in his environment is for quality water both for domestic and agricultural use, but as a result of the increase in population of the study area and the world at large, there is the possibility of an increased rate of man’s activities on the water systems which will directly or indirectly alter the quality of  water  in  the  study area.  Fresh  water  resources  are  threatened  not  only by over exploitation and poor management but also by ecological degradation. Besides, animals and other natural contaminants have also contributed to the detriment of water pollution in various communities.

1.3.      Aim and Objectives of the Study

This study is aimed at evaluating the quality of surface and groundwater systems in Bida catchment area of Niger State, Nigeria.

To accomplish this task, the specific objective is:

To evaluate the physio-chemical and bacteriological test of surface (river Landzun) and groundwater (hand dug well and boreholes) systems in Bida catchment area of Niger State, Nigeria.

1.4.      Justification

Water is known as an essential entity to man, but over the years it was observed that its quality has been altered; hence, man should see it as a challenge to explore ways of making quality water available for domestic and agricultural purposes in order to minimize the hazardous impact of using untreated water for domestic and agricultural purposes.

1.5.      Scope and Limitations of the Study

The scope and limitations of this study was the evaluation of surface (river Landzun) and groundwater (boreholes and hand dug wells) quality in Bida catchment area considering the physical; chemical; and bacteriological parameters.

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