Hydrogeology and Chemical Quality of Groundwater in Southwestern Part of Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The pastoral community of Minna, capital of Niger state, Nigeria, is rapidly growing and water needs for dornestic and agriculturally purposes consequently has increased. Groundwater samples were collected from dilferent parts of Minna and their physico-chemical properties analysed. The concentrations of most parameters analysed met the standards for safe drinking water, except NO3-, HCO3-, Mg, Ca, Fe, Pb, and Cd whose concentrations in some locations were above the recomrnended maximurn permissible limits. The envisaged high concentration of these elements is primarily anthropogenic, through fertilizer and pesticides application, leaching from dumpsites, cemetery and possibly mechanic workshops. Water from the area is predominantly hard. The dominant water type in the area as shown in Piper diagram is Mg-SO42- type. Boreholes and Hand-dug wells in Abatoir area, northeast of the study area may not be useful for domestic and agricultural purposes due to the high Cd and Pb contents with the attendant public health implications. Proper waste disposal system and controlled application of fertilizer must be implemented in the area in order to address groundwater contamination via human activities.