Assessment of the Effects of Leachates on Groundwater Quality in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focuses on the assessment of the effects of leachates on groundwater quality in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Ten (10) water samples comprising of five (5) leachate and five (5) borehole water samples were collected and analyzed as well as measurement of static water level (SWL). The sampling was done by using standard techniques. These analyzed parameters were compared with the World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water quality. The analyzed parameters were below the permissible limits of water quality guidelines, except for the leachate samples that were analyzed for chloride which concentrations ranges from 2850 - 3100mg/l below the 250mg/l and sulphate concentration ranges from 170.5 - 289.2mg/l below the 250mg/l. Iron concentration ranges from 3.6 - 4.7 mg/l above the permissible limits of 0.3 mg/l. The high concentrations of iron in the leachate is probably due to the dumping of metal scraps at the dumpsites, which corrodes, leaches out and infiltrates to contaminate the groundwater. The hydrochemical facies of the leachate samples corresponds to the region of saline water type (Na+ -K- Cl-- SO4 2-) as a result of the high concentration of Sodium. The static water level (SWL) of the area ranges from 2.5m to 8.7m. The water level data was determined in different boreholes in the study area. The maximum static water level in the study area occurs around BH4, at 8.4m below ground surface followed by BH2, with 6.2m below the ground surface. Values of static water level decreased in BH5 at 5.7m, BH1, 3.4m and BH3 at 2.5m. These values show shallow water levels which makes the aquifer in the area vulnerable to contamination from leachate and solid wastes. It is recommended that proper waste management practice(s) should be carried out in order to maintain a high level of environmental protection and sustainability as low as reasonably practicable.