Physiochemical Analysis of Groundwater at Kataeregi Mining Site, Niger State, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater samples were analysed to determine the heavy metals (pH, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ar, Fe and Ni) at Kataeregi mining site, Niger State, Nigeria. Ten groundwater samples were collected. Four samples of groundwater were collected from control site 100 m away from mining site. The results of the analysed water samples are as follows: The concentration level of Cadmium ranges from 0.000 mg/L to 0.003 mg/L while the control site is 0.000 mg/L, Copper ranges between 0.000 mg/L and 0.515 mg/L and that of the control site is 0.055 mg/L, Zinc ranges from 0.000 mg/L to 0.111 mg/L with its control site of 0.095 mg/L, all three analysed samples falls far below the permissible limit. Iron concentration varies from 0.03 mg/L and 13.6 mg/L with control site of 0.15 mg/L, all are above tolerable limit, arsenic ranges from 0.002 mg/L to 0.026 mg/Land the control site is 0.00 mg/L. Nitrate concentration level found is far above the WHO and NSDWQ standard with the values ranging from 16.50 mg/L to 323.7 mg/L with the control well value stands at 29.0 mg/L, well₁, well₃and well₄ values are all above tolerable limit. Mercury has concentration level ranging from 0.000 mg/L to 0.022 mg/L with well₂ been the possible contaminant, the control site remains at 0.000 mg/L while chromium has values ranging from 0.000 mg/L to 0.080 mg/L with well₁ having the value above the NSDWQ standard with control site value of 0.00 mg/L and lead concentration value ranging between 0.000 mg/L and 0.001 mg/L having control well value of 0.000 mg/L.