Assessment of Groundwater Contamination by Textile Effluent Discharges in Ikorodu, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assessed physicochemical properties (temperature, pH, acidity, alkalinity, colour, odour, taste, EC, TDS, TH, turbidity, bicarbonate, phosphate, nitrate, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^- & SO₄^2- as well as heavy metal concentrations heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) of selected wells and borehole near textile industries in Ikorodu, Nigeria. The physicochemical parameters were analysed using standard methods by APHA, while heavy metals were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The pH of water from the boreholes and hand-dug wells ranged from 5.90 to 6.70. The well water had higher total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sulphate and chloride compared to the boreholes. Alkalinity in the boreholes ranged from 740.2 to 820.4 mg L^-1 compared to wells that ranged from 144.4 to 670.2 mg L^-1. EC for the boreholes ranged from 124.5-182.3 μS cm^-1 compared to EC of wells that ranged from 216.2-385.6 μS cm^-1. TDS ranged from 48.6-60.3 mg L^-1 in the borehole compared to 62.5-120 mg L^-1 in the wells. Concentration of Fe ranged from 0.12 to 1.2 mg L^-1 in the boreholes compared to 1.2 to 1.60 mg L^-1 found in the well water. Zn, Pb, and Cu ranged from 0.60 to 1.20 mg L^-1, 0.02 to 0.03 mg L^-1 and 0.04 to 0.06 mg L^-1 respectively. Concentrations of Fe and Pb were above the permissible limits of WHO and NIS. A possible source of pollution is seepage of effluent discharge through the porous soil into the groundwater and this poses great danger to the health of the people who consume the water.