Hydrogeochemical assessment of groundwater quality: a case study of Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes by interpreting the hydrochemical species of groundwater samples. Six water samples were collected and assess to determine the concentration of some ions, pollution load index (PLI), contamination factor (CF), water quality index (WQI), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), magnesium hazard (MH), Kelly ratio (KR) and percentage sodium (%Na). The result revealed that most of the ions have concentrations within the WHO permissible limit for drinking water except biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Fe2þ, which exceeded the WHO standard in some samples. The mean abundance of the cations is Kþ. Naþ. Ca2þ. Fe2þ. Mg2þ. Mn2þ, while that of the anions is Cl_. SO2_ 4. HCO_3. The result reveals that Kþ and Cl_ are the most abundant cation and anion respectively. CF reveals a low concentration (,1) of So24_, Cl_ Kþ, Na2þ, Ca2þ, Mg2þ, and Mn2þ and high concentration (.1) of Fe2þ. The values of PLI were very low indicating no pollution. The WQI reveals the samples with excellent (,50) rating, while those above 100 (.100) were rated as poor. The SAR, MH, KR and %Na reveal the groundwater status for irrigation based on the ratings of the indices.