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 domestic and agriculturally purposes consequently has increased. Groundwater samples were collected from different parts of Minna and their physico-chemical properties analyzed. The concentrations of most parameters analyzed met the standards for safe drinking water, except NO3-, HCO3-, Mg, Ca, Fe, Pb and Cd whose concentrations in some locations were above the recommended maximum 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 the Piper diagram is Mg-SO42- type. Boreholes and Hand dug wells in Abattoir area, northeast of the study area may not be useful for domestic and agricultural purposes due to high Cd and Pb content with the attendant public health implemented in the area in order to address groundwater contamination via human activities.