Effects of household wastes on surface and underground waters

Abstract

The impact of indiscriminate dumping of waste, particularly household wastes within certain locality in Ondo State, in the western part of Nigeria on the quality of surface water and underground water (that is, wells with rings and without rings) were investigated. The water was analyzed for some physico-chemical parameters and some heavy metals using the standard methods. The results show that wells without rings are more vulnerable to contaminants than those with rings – while the surface water and wells without rings recorded threatening values of health concern especially in Pb, Ni, and Cd where almost 100% of the samples analyzed exceeded the WHO and Nigeria Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV) guidelines. Increased concentrations in some of the physico-chemical variables such as pH, turbidity, conductivity and phosphate above their permissible limit in water for domestic and other uses calls for urgent attention. The impact of the mineralogical nature of the sampling environment manifested in the concentration of some of the parameters. The study recommends proper monitoring of the entire localities. Key words: Pollution, contamination, wastes, heavy metals, groundwater, surface water.