Contributions of heavy metals on Underground Water quality of Dumpsite in Rukpokwu, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Waste dump sites have constituted major challenge to ground water quality in neighbouring environment. This study was carried out to assess the contributions of heavy metals in groundwater from abandoned Rukpokwu dumpsite after a 6-month use. Samples were collected and immediately transferred to the laboratory for standard analysis. The values of parameters of water samples pH ranged from 7.02 – 6.98. were quite below the WHO and NSDWQ limits. Conductivity ranged from 42.73- 19.91, TDS ranged from 10.76 -44.56, Turbidity ranged from 3.87 – 20.02, BOD ranged from 0.92 – 2.90, COD ranged from 1.74 – 3.21, Fe., ranged from 0.02 – 1.13, Zn ranged from 0.00 – 0.19, Cu ranged from 0.00 – 0.14,Pb, Cd and Cr were not detected in all the water samples. This might be that the contaminants could not migrate to the water table or aquifer within the period of use and study of the dumpsite.