Comparative Groundwater Assessment in Four Geological Settings of the Niger Delta, Nigeria
Ibe Kizito Chidozie *
Department of Civil Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Teniola Oluyara
Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Woyengidoubara Terah Angaye
Department of Community Medicine, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
O. Omuluche Collins
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
U. Okpoji Awajiiroijana
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Silvy Tamarapreye Etisi
Environment Assessment Department, Ministry of Environment, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study compared the physicochemical characteristics, major-ion composition, and trace-element concentrations of groundwater across four hydrogeological settings in the Niger Delta, Nigeria: Odoro Ikpe, Akwa Ibom State; Tuomo, Delta State; and Degema and Diobu, Rivers State. The assessment focused on pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, major ions and selected trace elements. The analytical procedures included in situ measurements of physicochemical parameters, titrimetric determination of selected major ions, flame photometry, UV–visible spectrophotometry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that pH ranged from 6.25 to 6.62, indicating slightly acidic conditions. EC varied from 325 to 685 µS/cm, while TDS ranged from 211 to 445 mg/L. Degema recorded the highest values for EC, TDS and turbidity, as well as the highest concentrations of several major ions, including sodium (68.4 mg/L), chloride (115.0 mg/L) and sulphate (25.8 mg/L). Nitrate concentrations ranged from 4.2 mg/L in Odoro Ikpe to 14.2 mg/L in Diobu. Among the trace elements, iron ranged from 0.22 to 0.46 mg/L, while lead ranged from 0.004 to 0.012 mg/L and cadmium from 0.0010 to 0.0030 mg/L. Degema recorded the highest iron and manganese concentrations, whereas Diobu had the highest concentrations of lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, copper and zinc. These patterns suggest spatial variability in groundwater chemistry across the four settings.
Keywords: Groundwater quality, physicochemical parameters, hydrogeological setting, Niger Delta, Nigeria