Hydrogeochemistry and quality assessment of some ground water samples from Enugu and environs, south-eastern, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking purposes in Enugu and environs, southeastern Nigeria. Water samples for this study were collected from ten different locations within the study area. Nine of the samples were subjected to physico-chemical analyses only, two out of the nine were subjected to both physico-chemical and microbiological analyses, while one (Egede borehole) was subjected to microbiological analyses only. The minimum and maximum values of pH (4.10-7.30 on scale), turbidity (0.17-218.60 NTU), colour (5.00-250.00 Hazen), electrical conductivity (14.00-550.00 µS/cm), total hardness (4.00-131.00 mg/l), total iron as Fe (0.12-8.60 mg/l), nitrate (0.01-3.50 mg/l), sulphate (0.50-43.00 mg/l), chloride (2.13-31.00 mg/l) and temperature (28-29 0 C) were recorded in the groundwater samples from the study area Major ion concentrations were low and within the WHO guidelines for drinking water indicating chemical suitability of surface water. All the three groundwater samples tested positive to total bacterial count and E-coli. and this is evidence of faecal contamination and should be treated/disinfected before consumption.

Reassessing Groundwater Potentials and Subsurface water Hydrochemistry in a Tropical Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria

“…Silica analysis in Nando and Udi by Egbunike [53] and Aniebone [128] , showed that it ranged from <0.001 to 30 mg/l (Figure 18). Silica is the most plentiful element found in rocks and it is constantly present in natural waters [129][130][131] .…”

Application of inverse modelling for prediction of the surface water chemistry of the ekulu river in enugu, southeastern nigeria

“…Therefore, application of inverse modelling to Ekulu river will give insight to the evolution and pollution sources. Previous researches reveal that Ekulu river and other rivers in Enugu are highly contaminated (Osuinde and Eneuzie, 1999;Aniebone, 2014;Ugochukwu et. al, 2019;Chinedu et al, 2021;Ken-Onukuba et.…”

“…In addition, this stream is used as a -natural lavatory‖, as evidenced by high deposits of human excrement along the river banks in Abakpa area. Aniebone (2014) carried out research to determine the bacterial contaminant in surface water around Enugu metropolis, and found high concentrations of heavy metals and pathogens with colonies ranging between 10 to over 200. High coliform count in Ekulu River may be an indication that the water sources were faecal contamination (Osuinde and Eneuzie, 1999).…”