Assessment of the Concentration of Inorganic Chemical Elements in the Pollution Status of Water Boreholes in Awka- Anambra Sedimentary Basin, Se, Nigeria

Abstract

Since Awka town was made the capital of Anambra State, population growth, innumerable industries and other new land uses have been on the increase. There is the fear that inorganic geochemical elements may have contaminated the groundwater making it unfit for consumption. This research is thus intended to estimate the magnitude to which borehole waters and by extension the groundwater system in the area have been contaminated. Six borehole water samples were collected and analysed for inorganic geochemical elements. The parameters analysed were colour, acidity, pH, conductivity, total dissolved and suspended solids (TDS and TSS). Others are nitrate (NO₃), chloride (Cl^-), sulphate (SO₄^2-), phosphate (PO₄³) copper (Cu²⁺), lead (Pb²⁺), cadmium (Cd²⁺), zinc (Zn²⁺), iron (Fe²⁺), total hardness (calcium hardness and magnesium hardness) (total hardness) and alkalinity. The analyses were conducted with appropriate geochemical equipment. It was discovered that other anions apart from phosphate are within the concentrations recommended for safe drinking water. The concentration of the cations is in the following order: Cl> HCO₃> SO₄> NO_3, and that for anions is Mg> Ca> K> Na, thus making the water in the area potentially magnesium chloride water. Iron and lead are the only heavy metals whose concentrations are high. Lead is toxic but iron only stains and causes intestinal disturbance.