Assessment of groundwater quality index for Jimeta-Yola area, Northeastern Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Journal of Geology and Mining Research
Title Assessment of groundwater quality index for Jimeta-Yola area, Northeastern Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 3
Issue 9
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2011
Page numbers 219-231
URL http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1380016080_Ishaku.pdf
Abstract
The objective of this work is to provide information on the physical and chemical properties of
groundwater in Jimeta-Yola area in order to appreciate the impacts of indiscriminate waste disposal
practice on the quality of groundwater and to discuss its suitability for human consumption from the
water quality index values. This has been determined by collecting groundwater samples from handdug
wells and boreholes in the dry season and rainy season periods and subjected to physicochemical
analysis. The results indicate that electrical conductivity (EC), chloride, nitrate and dissolved oxygen
exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) standards in the dry season and chloride, nitrate, dissolved
oxygen, total hardness and chromium hexavalent exceeded WHO standards in the rainy season. Spatial
distribution of EC, chloride, nitrate and chromium hexavalent in the dry and rainy season indicated that
the sources of these contaminants result from point sources such as house hold solid wastes, sewage
effluents and wastewater. The overall water quality index (WQI) value in the dry season was 96.4 which
indicate good water quality. The overall WQI value in the rainy season was 138.5 which indicate poor
water quality. The high value of WQI has been found to be mainly from chloride, nitrate, dissolved
oxygen, chromium hexavalent and EC. The source of these contaminants is attributed to anthropogenic
origin. The study revealed that the water quality is unfit for human consumption without treatment.

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