The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of leaking septic tanks on groundwater quality in Owerri Municipal. The study was conducted at the Department of Geosciences at the Federal University of Technology Owerri and the Department of Chemistry at the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, from January 2013 to May 2014.
Methodology: Chemical and geophysical analyses were used to conduct geophysical and geochemical analyses. Longitudes 6o59'E to 7o06'E and Latitudes 5o33'N define Owerri Municipal. It is located in the sands of the coastal plains. The quality of groundwater was determined by collecting samples from three different locations, Amakohia, Naze, and Nekede, and performing physiochemical analyses on each to determine the nature of dissolved substances in the groundwater. The samples' physiochemical parameters, such as bulk density, porosity, and permeability, were also determined. The vertical electrical sounding method was used to obtain a description of the lithology and aquifer parameters. The sample density ranged from 1.49 to 1.98 mg/L, the porosity values ranged from 0.20 to 0.38, and the permeability ranged from 0.053 mg/L to 2.49 mg/L. The chemical analysis revealed that some heavy metals had concentrations that exceeded WHO standards. Iron ranges from 18.6 to 63.9 mg/L, nickel is 7.5 mg/L, and manganese is 0.46 mg/L. The topsoil resistivity ranges from 618 m to 3800 m. A layer of low resistivity indicating clay and clayey sand extends to 60 m at Naze, 60 m at Nekede, and 50 m at Amakohia, with an average resistivity range of 7500 m. Beyond these depths, resistivity is high, with an average depth of 3500 m. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the subsurface is permeable, implying that traces of heavy metals present in the samples are contained in leachets from surrounding environments, such as septic tanks or industrial activities on the surface. Groundwater quality in this environment can be improved by recommending boreholes drilled from 70 m, where leachet permeability is negligible. The high concentration of some heavy metals is suspected to be present in the leachets, which could have infiltrated the environment as a result of human deposits and industrial activities.
Author (s) Details
V. N. Nwugha
Department of Geosciences, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State Nigeria and Department of Basic Sciences, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, P.M.B. 1033 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
P. I. Okeke
Department of Basic Sciences, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, P.M.B. 1033 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
U. R. Emeronye
Department of Basic Sciences, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, P.M.B. 1033 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
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