Hydro-Geophysical Assessment of Soil and Groundwater Near Active Dumpsites in Gusau Metroplis, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil and groundwater pollutions are worldwide phenomena which result from both natural and anthropogenic sources. In this research, geophysical investigations involving geoelectric survey using ABEM SAS 300 Terrameter was carried out around three active dumpsites in Gusau, Northwestern, Nigeria for hydro-geophysical assessment of the contamination of soil and groundwater. Vertical electrical Soundings (VES) were conducted on the dumpsites by using Schlumberger array with maximum current electrode separations of 180 m. Five VES were conducted on each dumpsite making a total of fifteen VES along three profiles. The field data obtained has been analyzed using WinGlink software which gives an automatic interpretation of apparent resistivity. The VES results revealed three subsurface layers. The geologic sequence beneath the study area is composed of topsoil (clay to sandy-clay, sandy-lateritic), weathered basement, fractured basement and fresh basement.The topsoil has resistivity ranging from 1.5 Ωm to 48.2 mΩ while the thickness vary from 0.47 m to 3.37 m across the profiles. The second layer's resitivity vary from 5.4 Ωm to 144.35 Ωm and their thickness ranges from 1.36 m to 16.93 m. The third geoelectric layer has resisitivity from 70.0 Ωm to 6003.0 Ωm. The results revealed that the top soils in all the dumpsites were characterized by very low resistivity depicting possible pollution and contamination at all dumpsites. The dumpsites are depicted by differential decomposition of waste as zones of advanced decomposition and fresh waste are reflected by low and high resistivity respectively. The second and third layers show moderate to high resistivity values which are indicative of leachate absence. These areas are suitable for groundwater expolration. Findings from the study indicate that there may be possible contamination of shallow groundwater system in the nearest future if proper mitigation measures are not taken into consideration at the dumpsites.Solid wastes are produced on daily basis as a result of direct consequence of inevitable human activities. Refuse contents consist of various kinds of materials like metallic, organic and non-biodegradable materials [1]. The intensity of the human activities has led to increasing volume of solid

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Contamination in Waste Dumpsites Within Gusau Area, Northwest Nigeria

“…On the other hand, four heavy metals showed high enrichment factor. This observation is contrary to earlier work by Murana et al 2019. In their work, these authors reported low concentration of these heavy metals from the same area. This result has revealed further enrichment from the dumpsites because of lack of any remedial action.…”

Integrated approach to unsaturated zone characterization as it relates to burial practices and its impact on the immediate environment

“…The resistivity values adopted for the determination of the depth of contamination and other layers are after the work of Adeoti et al. (2011) in Murana et al. (2019) .…”

Geoelectrical and Geochemical Investigations of Selected Dumpsites for Potential Groundwater Contamination in Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria

“…Refuse contents consist of various kinds of materials like metallic, organic and non-biodegradable materials (Sunmonu et al, 2012). The intensity of the human's activities has led to increasing volume of solid waste worldwide despite the level of global technological advancement and industrialization (Ganiyu et al, 2015;Abdullahi et al, 2011;Akankpo and Igboekwe, 2011;Murana et al, 2019a). Poor management of solid waste has resulted to a lot of disastrous effects such as aesthetics, environmental hazard and pollution.…”