Geotechnical and Water Quality Assessment of Erosion-Prone Umuagu Village, Ufuma, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Umuagu village is located in Ufuma town which is one of the sixteen communities in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. It is located between latitude 6º 05’N and 7º 11″E. The developing erosion site which is the subject of this work runs along the Etiti to Obuagu collector road, commencing off the Ekwulobia/Umunze Road and all five gullies found in Umuagu-Ufuma are road-bound, active and disruptive. A total of three (3) soil and three (3) water samples were collected and analysed using standard method. The result of the soil analyses shows that the soil at Uphill Etiti Umuagu contains 88.2% sand, 6.8% silt and 5.0% clay. In the Middle Course Etiti Umuagu, the soil contains 56.4% sand, 18.5% silt and 15.1% clay while in the Down Stream Course Obuagu Umuagu, the soil samples contain 62% sand, 25% silt and 13% clay. From the obtained result, it is apparent that the entire sequence is sandy and loose; a condition that favours easy soil dispersal and erosion. Physical observation of the water samples shows that the water samples are clean, colourless and had no odour. The pH of the water samples was 6.40, 6.5, 6.30 for borehole, river, and stream waters respectively. The total dissolved solids, total hardness and conductivity contents were within the WHO/ FMEnv limits, with concentrations of 002mg/l, 003mg/l and 003mg/l; 48mg/l, 28mg/l and 30mg/l; and 15.60 µs, 14.60 µs and 16.20 µs for the borehole / river/ stream respectively. The values of the heavy metals detected were: Lead 1.690/ 0.9740/ 0.8612; and Chromium 0.020/ 0.00/ 0.00 (these were above the WHO standard except concentration of Lead in the borehole) while there was no trace of Cobalt, Silver, Tin and Aluminium in the water, except for Magnesium and Molybdenum. The concentration of coliform counts was observed to exceed the value of 102 cfu/ml recommended by the World Health Organisation.