Abstract
Abstract The Coal Province lies within the central portion of Anambra Basin and along the axis of regional water resources catchment of Southeastern Nigeria. Although this area includes a prolific aquifer, the high cost of development and treatment of the groundwater degraded by AMD has created water scarcity problems against water policy initiatives. Social and economic impacts were investigated, even as policy measures for rehabilitation purposes through water resource management were highlighted. Several geoscientific methods were integrated for the investigations. Mean resistivity up to 30 Ω-m relatively at shallow depths indicated aquitards of Enugu/Mamu Formations, whereas the aquifer reflected resistivity ≤1,000 Ω-m at depths of ≥180 m across Ajali Sandstone. Alkaline-rich seepage flushed Fe-rich AMD at aquifer-aquitards interfaces adjoining the river catchment area. The AMD-induced oxidation process produced noxious Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3-SO4-Cl facie. These results were correlated with policy related questionnaires. Plans for water security were proposed, mainly to channel groundwater directly from the regional aquifer, or the chemically degraded seeped water from the fluvial system, into constructor water reservoir (treatment) columns prior to distribution to the town-water supply. Such water resource development is cost effective; and with management policies regulated by relevant decision-making agencies, sustainable supply is assured.
Highlights
BackgroundEnugu coal province is an ancient city in Southeastern Nigeria
The water supply problem is endemic in Enugu region because groundwater occurrence is greatly hampered by underlying geology which allows seepage at formation contacts, mainly between aquitards of the coal bearing Mamu formation and the regional aquifer belonging to Ajali sandstones
The regional aquifer is potable, it yields efficiently to wells and feeds adjoining fluvial systems that traverse beyond Anambra Basin; thereby producing a water supply for the entire region and across states in Nigeria
Summary
The region is located at the center where industrialized potable water is produced and distributed in hygienically sealed packs (60 cL watertight sachets and various sizes of bottles) to different parts of Nigeria. A previous literature review noted the problematic water supply in Enugu State (Nganje et al, 2011; Utom et al, 2012). Except for a few affluent individuals, the water vending service is unaffordable, especially as the failure of the water pipe project has not been overcome in Enugu region. These challenges were connected with quality induced scarcity and high cost of water resource development due to drainage of coal mine effluents into the fluvial setting emanating from the groundwater system
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