Abstract
Hydrogeochemical assessments were carried out in the vicinity of Okpara coal and Obwetti fireclay mines, Enugu, Nigeria to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and constituents of shallow groundwater. A total of 12 representative shallow groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for major cations and anions as well as trace metals like Fe and Mn. Distribution of major ions in these groundwater samples was calculated and the general trend among cations and anions was found to be Ca → Na → Mg → K and SO4 → NO3 → Cl → HCO3, respectively. This means that water moving through the ground will react to varying degrees with the surrounding minerals (and other components), and it is these rock–water interactions that give the water its characteristic chemistry. Piper trilinear diagrams classified the hydrogeochemical facies into Ca–Mg–Cl, Ca–Fe–Mg–SO4 and Ca–Mg–Na–K–Cl–SO4 water types. Ratios of Cl to Na, K and Mg generally increased compared to those of Cl to Ca and SO4 which decreased indicating ion adsorption/exchange processes due to the dissolution of drainage materials. The aquiferous units mainly in the northwestern region of the study area yield water of better quality than those toward the southeastern region.
Highlights
PurposeAbout 80 % of the earth’s surface is covered by water yet qualitatively 97 % of this vast natural resource falls unfit for human use (Rai 2004)
We evaluated the distribution of major ions in these groundwater samples and found the general trend among cations and anions to be Ca ? Na ? Mg ? K and SO4 ? NO3 ? Cl ? HCO3, respectively
This supports the work of Uma (1992), who noted that the mine drainage has not seriously degraded the chemistry of the receiving streams as the pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and the dissolved ions were just increased less than 10 % of the values in the unaffected regions
Summary
PurposeAbout 80 % of the earth’s surface is covered by water yet qualitatively 97 % of this vast natural resource falls unfit for human use (Rai 2004). Water scarcity resulting from increasing demand for water over the years in different parts of the world has been aggravated by the problems of water pollution or contamination. Majority of these problems results from improper management of water resources and environmental degradation from natural sources (Olowokudejo 2007). Intermittent water supply shortages are major problems of the inhabitants of the Enugu area, Nigeria (Utom et al 2012). The dense population, the industries and the various other utilities place great demands on the scarce water supplied from both surface water and groundwater resources.
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