Hydrogeology

Environmental, Hydrogeology

Soil and Groundwater Quality Assessment in Oil Spill Areas of Agbura, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Environmental, Hydrogeology /

Authors: Paago, J.B. and Oborie, E. Abstract An assessment of soil and groundwater quality in the oil spill affected parts of Agbura, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, was carried out to evaluate the concentration of key physicochemical parameters and determine the level of contaminationin the area. Soil and groundwater samples were collected from five boreholes drilled to 6m depth at distances ranging from 100m to 500m from the primary oil spill site. Results of laboratory analysis indicate that the groundwater pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were within World Health Organisation (WHO) and Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN) limits with values ranging from 6.1 to 6.9 and 37.45to257.38μS/cm respectively. Turbidity was higher than the recommended standard, and biochemical oxygendemand (BOD) exceeded acceptable limits across all samples. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) levels varied from 0.2310 to 0.9382 mg/l, with values at the impact site significantly above regulatoryvalues. Heavy metals such asFe and Pb were found in concentrations surpassing recommended limits in most of the samples analysed. The water quality index (WQI) revealed that thegroundwater quality deteriorated closer to the spill site, with samples from the impact site classified as “unsuitable” and”poor,” while samples away from the spill site were classified as “good.” Soil analysis showed TPH concentrations that ranged from 0.294 to 1.0661 mg/kg, with levels decreasing with depth and distance from the spill site. Other heavy metals showed variable contamination patterns, influenced by proximity to the spill. These findings highlight significant contamination of groundwater and soil, particularly near the spill site, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring and remediation efforts in the study area.

Engineering Geology, Hydrogeology

Groundwater Contamination due to the Activities of Auto – Mechanics in Lagos Metropolis, South-western Nigeria

Engineering Geology, Hydrogeology /

Authors: Umbugadu, A.A. and Akinwumi, T.V. Abstract The release of wastes generated from the activities at automobile workshops leads to heavy metals contamination of groundwater which can be harmful to human health. The study is aimed at investigating the physicochemical andheavy metal contamination of groundwater from three automobile workshops at Super, Jankara and Kola areas located at Alimosho, Ifako – Ijaye and Agege Local Government areas of Lagos State. Fifteen (15) samples were collected from residential houses near the automobile workshops, at 5m – 75m depth and taken to Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) laboratory at Oshodi, Lagos. Electrical conductivity (EC), pH, temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured onsite using a 107 model pH meter. The samples were analysed for lead, magnesium, manganese, cadmium, arsenic, chromium and mercury using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Perkin Elmer model Analyst 3000.The TDS value of all the samples in this research ranged from 0.017 mg/l – 0.097mg/l which is within the W.H.O. standards of 500mg/l. The pH value of all the analysed groundwater samples ranged from 4.4 – 7. This implied that groundwater in the study area are slightly acidic to neutral. The groundwater samples from JW03 are below the acceptable pH limit of W.H.O while the groundwater from the remaining 14 sampling points have pH values less than 6.5, hence, they are slightly acidic. Only two sampling points in Jankara; JW06 and JW07, falls within the W.H.O acceptable limit while the remaining samples have values lower than 6.5. The electricalconductivity in the water analysed ranged from 0.72 μS/cm – 194 μS/cm. The electrical conductivity value of all the water samples analysed are below the W.H.O standard of 1000μS/cm. This result reflects a low input of solute in the groundwater. The temperature values of the groundwater samples of the three areas of the research ranged from 26.8 ºC – 37.8ºC with a median value of 30.2ºC. The values exceeded that of W.H.O limit of 25ºC. The concentration of heavy metal in groundwater of the three mechanic workshops are in this trend; Pb>Mn>Cd>Cr. Arsenic was not detected in all the groundwater samples from the three mechanic workshops. The metal Pb have a range of 0.382 mg/l – 1.895mg/l and an average of 1.070mg/l, Mn ranged from 0.067 mg/l – 2.0933mg/l with an average of 0.7468mg/l, Cd ranged from 0.146 mg/l – 0.5937mg/l with an average of 0.36mg/l while Cr ranged from 0.036 mg/l -0.098mg/l with an average of 0.060mg/l.

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