Appraising the Physico-chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metals in Pond Water at Quarry Site in Ngwogwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

P C Ogbonna,N P Ukpai,K O Obasi,S O Umezuruike

doi:10.36263/nijest.2020.02.0203

Abstract

Quarrying as a land use is a potential source of water pollution but lack of access to safe drinking water has impelled people to make use of pond water from quarry sites. This study investigated the physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals of water samples collected at China quarry site in Ngwogwo Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The concentrations of Cd (0.01±0.00 to 0.02±0.00 mg/l), Pb (6.70±0.78 to 7.87±1.08 mg/l), Ni (1.03±0.04 to 1.37±0.04 mg/l), As (1.99±0.02 to 2.35±0.09 mg/l), Fe (3.66±0.44 to 4.18±0.04 mg/l) and Zn (2.47±0.06 to 3.17±1.13 mg/l) were higher than the permissible limit of drinking water by World Health Organization, WHO and Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON. Also, the values of biochemical oxygen demand, BOD (37.57±1.44 to 53.13±0.86 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand, COD (59.55±0.51 to 61.28±0.64 mg/l), dissolved oxygen, DO (5.14±1.51 to 5.75±1.09 mg/l), Mn (3.64±0.91 to 5.10±1.27 %) and Ca (91.88±0.18 to 102.83±0.59 %) were higher than the permissible limit recommended by WHO. Consequently, it is recommended that quarry workers and inhabitants of Ngwogwo should be discouraged from making use of the pond water since it is not fit and will expose them to serious health challenges. In addition, Ebonyi State Government should demand Environmental Impact Assessment report from miners before issuing operating license to them.

Highlights

Safe drinking water is very essential for sustenance of good health and livelihood of people living in both urban and rural areas
This study investigated the physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals of water samples collected at China quarry site in Ngwogwo Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Quarry activities such as blasting, transportation and disposal of waste rocks cause dustair pollution (Nwachukwu et al, 2018) that settle on soil, plants and water bodies resulting to heavy metal pollution (Ogbonna et al, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Safe drinking water is very essential for sustenance of good health and livelihood of people living in both urban and rural areas. The provision of safe drinking water is a basic human need over the world. In Nigeria, most rural communities do not have access to safe drinking water (Egboh and Emeshili, 2007) and where some water sources are available; its quality remains questionable with potential health risks (Okovido et al, 2018). Many rural dwellers suffer the burden of walking long distances in search of water for daily domestic use (Ogbonna et al, 2020a). It is estimated that about sixty (60) million Nigerians lack access to portable drinking water (Majuru et al, 2011)

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Results

Conclusion