ABSTRACT
Water is an essential component to the development of any area. Human settlement is to large extent dependent on the availability of good sources of water in proximity to the settled location. This project work examines the ground water quality present in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Six borehole water samples were carefully collected in six different locations in Ibesikpo Asutan for various physiochemical analysis. Arsenic, Chloride, Flouride, Zinc, Lead, Manganese, Magnesium, Iron, Sulphate, Nitrate, total hardness, total dissolved solid (TDS), Turbidity, pH, phenolics compound, as well as coliform colonies were assessed among the entire samples collected. The results of the analysis show that: the pH range is 7.20 – 8.50 which means the borehole water sample falls within a low basic range, TDS range is 408 – 679(mg/l), total hardness 72 -425 (mg/l), Magnesium 16.20 – 39.10 (mg/l), Chloride 51-96(mg/l), Zinc 0.01- 0.30, Nitrate 35-44 (mg/l), Iron 0.03-0.06(mg/l), Sulphate 130-183 (mg/l), arsenic, Manganese, lead and phenolics compounds were found to be <0.01 and <0.05 respectively. The result shows that the water samples considered in this work do compare favorably with WHO standards and IS standards.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
List of Figures x
List of Tables xi
CHAPTER ONE 12
INTRODUCTION 12
1.1 Background of the Study 12
1.2 Aims & Objectives 13
1.3 Justification 14
1.4 Statement of Research Problem 14
1.5 Scope 15
CHAPTER TWO 16
LITERATURE REVIEW 16
2.1 Heavy Metal 16
2.2 Heavy Metal in Water 17
2.4 Empirical Frame Work 19
CHAPTER THREE 22
MATERIALS AND METHODS 22
3.1 Materials and Equipment 22
3.1 Groundwater samples collection and analysis 23
STUDY AREA 24
CHAPTER FOUR 26
RESULT AND DISCUSSION 26
CHAPTER FIVE 45
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 45
5.1 Conclusion 45
5.2 Recommendation 46
REFERENCES 48
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Chart Showing Variations Of pH Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 32
Figure 2: Chart Showing Variations of TDS Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 33
Figure 3: Chart Showing Variations of Total Hardness Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 34
Figure 4: Chart Showing Variations of Magnesium Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 35
Figure 6: Chart Showing Variations of Sulphates Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 37
Figure 7: Chart Showing Variations of Iron Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 38
Figure 8: Chart Showing Variations of Fluoride Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 39
Figure 9: Chart Showing Variations of Chloride Concentration of Water Samples in IbesikpoAsutan, Akwa Ibom State 40
Figure 10: Chart Showing Variations of Zinc Concentration of Water Samples in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State 41
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Results of water quality analysis of Ibesikpo Asutan LGA 26
Table 2: classifications of total hardness in water. 27
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Groundwater is one of the sources of water for drinking and irrigation in the agricultural sector which aid in the production of food. Water is the most important natural resources without which life would be nonexistent (Adebo and Adetoyinbo, 2009. Availability of safe and reliable source of water is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development. However, groundwater is not only a valuable resource for water supply, but also a vital component of global water cycle and the environment.
The entry of contaminant into the environment due to human and natural activities is one of the major important problems facing the society today. Due to the industrial and economic growth and the production of a variety of compounds and Chemicals followed by increase consumption, man makes some unwanted pollutants many of which cause serious problems and risks for the environment and for man himself.
The most important sources of environmental pollution are soil and rock weathering and natural events such as earthquake and flood. The daily accumulation of heavy metals in our localities (especially the coastal waters) has intensified in recent years with population growth, industrialization and new technological development.
The public awareness on the damages associated with heavy metals has been partially responsible for alerting the government on the urgent need to protect the health of its citizens by keeping constant watch levels of toxic pollutants, taking steps to reduce them to acceptable levels and ensuring control of emission of pollutant into the environment by legislation. Though, these objectives are not being actively pursued in some developing countries.
Water being a prime need for human survival and industrial development is being affected by various activities of man which alters its composition physically, chemically or biologically. Pollution of water has been widely reported, sources of pollution by trace metal include atmospheric release from fossil fuel burning, domestic sewage discharge, mining, canning etc. With rapid increase in the diversification in industrialization and particularly with extensive utilization of crude oil in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region, the concentration of metal pollutants in the ecosystem has increased drastically. The water bodies and groundwater has been implicated of contamination by heavy metals, therefore, this research attempt to report whether groundwater is seriously polluter and if so, to identify the sources of pollution and the extent of damage to the environment.
1.2 Aims & Objectives
This study/research was aimed at examining the general groundwater quality in selected locations in Ibesikpo Asutan. It will further state the effects of heavy metal contamination of groundwater and possible health risk associated with high Physiochemical concentration and high level of heavy metals in groundwater and practical preventive measures to be taken.
For these to be achieved, the following objectives must be considered;
To identify the sources of groundwater contamination.
The causes of heavy metal in groundwater and the health risks associated with it.
To identify the source of heavy metal contamination in groundwater and the health risk associated with it.
1.3 Justification
This research aims at creating awareness about the presence of heavy metals in groundwater and the physiochemical properties of this water due to anthropogenic activities and the health implications associated with long term exposure to these metals in the human system.
This research will further aid in providing information on the health assessment risk associated with the presence of heavy metals in groundwater and also gives information on the preventive measures to mitigate these occurrences especially the human factor.
1.4 Statement of Research Problem
Heavy metal pollution is a menace to our environment as they are foremost contaminating agents of our food and drinking water and soil. These water gets contaminated by passing through these mineral deposit underground when present in excess, these metals poses serious health threat like Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, liver and Kidney dysfunction etc.
1.5 Scope
This investigation is only limited to selected locations in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State. To determined the Physiochemical properties of groundwater and heavy metal including the health hazards associated with its presence in groundwater.
