HYDROCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATED AREAS OF OKOMA COMMUNITY, AHOADA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Аннотация

The Hydrochemistry, quality and suitability of the groundwater for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes in Okoma Community, Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria have been assessed. A total of ten (10) samples of water were collected from hand dug wells in the area and analyzed to determine the physico-chemical parameters. The range values for the parameters are: pH (4.54–5.74), Temperature (28.6–29.80C), EC (20-150µS/cm), Salinity (0.00– 0.05ppt), DO (6.22-15.31ppm), TDS (70–180mg/l), Ca2+ (0.003–0.360mg/l), Mg2+ (0.048–0.305mg/l), K+ (0.405-4.370mg/l), Na+ (1.450–10.900mg/l), Fe2+ (0.001–0.079mg/l), PO 3- (0.001– 0.033mg/l), SO 2- (11.30 –29.70mg/l), NO - (0.455–2.380mg/l), 4 4 3 Cl- (1.00–24.00mg/l). All parameters analyzed fall within the maximum and permissible limits of both WHO (2011) and NSDWQ (2007) regulatory guidelines except the pH which indicates acidity and therefore unsafe for drinking and industrial purposes. The Water Quality Index (WQI) values which ranges from (201.943–269.780) suggests that the water in the area is 100% of very poor quality and unsuitable for drinking. The Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values ranging from (1.005–4.787Meq/l) suggests that the groundwater is good to excellent for the purpose of irrigation. More and frequent hydro-chemical studies should be carried out in the area to detect any further deterioration of the groundwater quality. Volume 04 Issue 07-2022 6 The American Journal of Applied sciences (ISSN – 2689-0992) VOLUME 04 ISSUE 07 Pages: 6-29 SJIF IMPACT FACTOR (2020: 5. 276) (2021: 5. 634) (2022: 6. 176) OCLC – 1121105553 METADATA IF – 7.987 Publisher: The USA Journals KEYWORDS Water quality, hydrochemistry, water quality index, contamination, acidity, physic-chemical properties.