Assessment of Geochemistry of Surface and Groundwater Sources During the Dry Season in Uhonmora-Ora Owan-West Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals and biological characteristics in surface and groundwater sources in Uhonmora-Ora during the dry season was undertaken. Physicochemical parameters examined include pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and electrical conductivity. The concentrations of heavy metals such as Iron, Cadmium, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Lead, and Zinc were examined. The bacteriological parameters were counts for pneumonia, coli, typhi, and aerogenes. The study’s objective was to assess the physicochemical and biological characteristics of groundwater quality during the dry season in conformity with WHO and NSDWQ standards. Data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. Data from sixty surface and groundwater samples from streams/rivers and hand-dug wells across the eight quarters were analysed. Results showed that a combination of very high and positive correlations exists between and among the tested parameters. However, variations exist within and among the mean concentration of NTU, DO, TSS, TDS, Fe, Cd, Cu, Ca, Ma, Pb, Zn, K, E, S, and Ea are parameters in surface and groundwater sources. The study also revealed that the rate of shared contaminants of surface and groundwater sources was higher during the dry season than in the wet season. The study recommends that at regular intervals, samples from these water sources should be assessed and the outcome made available to researchers for cross-examination and remediation to improve human health.