Determination Of Heavy Metals In Groundwater: In Some Selected Areas Of Minna Metropolis

ABSTRACT

The study investigates total of eight groundwater samples, two of the samples A and B are bicentenary dug wells, while others C, D, E, F, G and H are boreholes of between two to ten years old, all located in Minna metropolis. After the digestion of the samples with nitric acid, four heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr and Pb) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The results from the AAS revealed that 87.5%, 25%, 75% and 87.5% of the samples contained higher levels of Cd, Cu, Cr and Pb respectively than the prescribed limits set by WHO. The results also indicated that the TDS, TSS, Cl^–, NO₃^– and pH of all the samples were within the allowable permissible concentrations and pH range respectively set by WHO. About 62.5% of the samples contained DO slightly below the acceptable limits set by WHO, while 12.5% of the samples recorded BOD₅ values above the WHO permissible levels and the CO₃^– concentrations in all the samples were below the detection limits.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.2     PROBLEM STATEMENT

1.3     AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTION

1.5    LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1.7     RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1.9     PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1     OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY

2.2   HEAVY METALS AND THE ECO- AND BIOSPHERE

2.3     DETERMINING HEAVY METALS

2.4      MITIGATING HEAVY METALS

2.5      Geology and Groundwater Pollution

2.6     URBANIZATION AND GROUNDWATER POLLUTION

2.7    REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     METHODOLOGY

3.1     STUDY AREA

3.2      COLLECTION OF SAMPLES

3.3     SAMPLE TREATMENT

3.4     HEAVY METALS INVESTIGATION

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0`RESULT ANALYSIS

4.1     RESULT AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1     CONCLUSION

5.2     RECOMMENDATION

5.3     REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                              INTRODUCTION

1.1                                                 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Groundwater is indispensable vital natural resources that are found available in rocks and soil under the earth surface, this groundwater usually concentrates underground in sinkhole. It was estimated that about 97% of world freshwater that is potentially available for human use constitutes groundwater and it is an important source of drinking water in various places around the world. The sources of groundwater in most of the nations are found to be the largest water supplier for domestic and drinking purposes in many parts of the world, especially in areas without polluted free sources of surface water. In many localities around the world it may be the most economical water source and it is based on the fact that groundwater is usually considered to be of higher quality as well as relatively free from microorganism than surface water (World Health Organization, 2006).

However, this precious natural resources is vulnerable to many water pollutants such as heavy metal (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe and Mn) contamination due to the geological location of the area as well as anthropogenic activity such as farming and industrial activity (Ackah et al. (2011); Chindo et al. (2013); Elangovan and Kumar (2013)). The higher nitrate and phosphate contents were found in the groundwater in India, Korea and Nigeria (Dahiya et al. (2007); Kangjoo et al. (2005)) and Aturamu (2012); Chukwu (2008) respectively. The higher concentration of fluoride and chloride in the groundwater in some places were equally noticed Arya et al. (2012) and Sayyed and Bhosle (2011) respectively. The agricultural activities and petroleum sector contributed heavily in the contamination of the groundwater with organochlorine pesticides, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), total herbicides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCS) and diesel hydrocarbon fraction (C₁₀-C₄₀) (Alshikh, 2011).

Therefore, this paper assessed the physico-chemical parameters (pH, DO, BOD₅, TDS, TSS, Cl^–, NO₃^–, CO₃^2-, Cd, Cu, Cr and Pb) of both bicentenary dug wells and boreholes of between two to ten years old, thereby finding whether are safe and fit for human consumption and food processing or otherwise.

1.2                                                      PROBLEM STATEMENT

For many rural and small communities, groundwater is the only source of drinking water. Heavy metals are priority toxic pollutants that severely limit the beneficial use of water for domestic or industrial application. Natural heavy metals concentrations in soils are due to erosion and weathering of parent rocks. Some trace elements, such as Cu and Zn, are necessary in low concentrations for all living organisms while most of them present toxicity hazards at high concentrations. Urbanization, industrial activities and agricultural practices (fertilizers and pesticides application to farmlands) have environmental adverse effects (e.g., groundwater contamination with heavy metals) (Imoisi, O.B., Ayesanmi, A.F. and E.G.Uwumarongie- Ilori, 2012). This study was carried out to determine the presence of heavy metals in ground water and to identify remedies to it.

1.3                                        AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Studies  have shown that Nigeria groundwater quality is influenced by the geology and geochemistry of heavy metals. The main aim of the study is to determine the presence of heavy metals in Minna metropolis groundwater. The objectives are:

1. To determine the status of the quality of groundwater in Minna metropolis.
2. To identification of factors influencing the quality of urban groundwater and possible remedial measures in Nigeria
3. To evaluate and map regional patterns of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn) occurrence in Minna.

1.4                                                         RESEARCH QUESTION

At the end of this work answers to the following question shall be made known:

1. How do heavy metals get into groundwater?
2. What are common heavy metals in water?

• What are signs of heavy metal toxicity?

1. How do you get rid of heavy metals in water?

1.5                                                   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-

1. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
2. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

• Time Constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.6                                                 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will throw more light on the sources of ground water pollution and it remedies. This study will also be designed to be of immense benefit to all the readers of this book and users of groundwater in that it will help them to understand the hygienic level of the groundwater most especially areas where ground water is the major source of their water supply.

1.7                                             RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

In the course of carrying this study, numerous sources were used which most of them are by visiting libraries, consulting journal and news papers and online research which Google was the major source that was used.

1.8                                     PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.