Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metals in Groundwater Bassambiri-Nembe, Bayelsa State, Nigeria ()
ABSTRACT
The study is focused on the post impact of oil spill
contamination of groundwater in Bassambiri Nembe Bayelsa State.
Groundwater samples were sampled from hand dug wells from eight stations
including the control point for physico-chemical
investigation using sterilized glass bottles. Standard methods were used
for the analyses. The result of physico-chemical parameters analyzed shows that
the values of the groundwater pH ranged between 5.90 - 6.35, electrical
conductivity between 80.39 - 89.23 μS/cm, Salinity 23.3 - 28.69 mg/l, Turbidity
1.71 - 3.84 NTU, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) 1.12 - 1.36 mg/l, Alkalinity
8.56 - 12.12 mg/l, Total Hardness 11.8 - 14.47 mg/l and Temperature 26.1℃ -
27.3℃. Analysis of cations shows that Na ranged from 7.38 - 10.34 mg/l, K 0.26
- 0.49 mg/l, Calcium ion levels 2.56 - 3.59 mg/l and Mg 0.88 mg/l - 1.23 mg/l.
The anions showed Potassium ion levels ranged from 0.01 mg/l - 0.02 mg/l,
Chloride ion levels 12.29 mg/l - 15.88 mg/l, Fluoride ion levels 0.01 mg/l and
Nitrates from 0.27 mg/l - 0.48 mg/l. Total Heterotopic Fungi population ranged from 15.26 - 48.55 Coliform Forming
units/ml. The maximum permissible value of total coliforms in drinking water
was exceeded. However, the Total Hydrocarbon Concentration (THC) across the groundwater sample points was less than 0.01 mg/l. The concentration of PAH and BTEX was 0.01 mg/l
across the study area. The heavy metal concentrations in the groundwater
samples were negligible with levels of 0.01 mg/l
observed in the study area except for iron ranging from 0.20 - 0.56 mg/l levels
above the WHO permissible limit. The physico-chemical parameters of groundwater
indicate that they fall below WHO permissible limits. The cations and anions
concentration indicate a stable and healthy water system which is relatively
good. The groundwater system has high levels of iron in groundwater and bacterial contamination. Treatment is
required to avoid acute and chronic
iron overload resulting from consumption from drinking groundwater
within the study area.
Share and Cite:
Amararu, O. , Udom, G. and Ideozu, R. (2023) Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metals in Groundwater Bassambiri-Nembe, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
International Journal of Geosciences,
14, 1065-1084. doi:
10.4236/ijg.2023.1411054.
Cited by
No relevant information.