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Effect of population and
level of industrialization on underground water quality of
Abia state, Nigeria - physico-chemical properties
Ano A. O.1* and
Okwunodulu F. U.2
1Soil
Science Laboratories, National Root Crops Research
Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
2Department
of Chemical Sciences, Michael Okpara University of
Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
tonyanoh@yahoo.com.
Accepted
15 January, 2008 |
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The physico-chemical properties of underground waters in Abia
State, Nigeria were determined with a view to ascertaining
the effect of population density and level of
industrialization on the water quality parameters using Aba
(a relatively industrialized city) and Umuahia (a city with
very few industries) as a case study. Underground waters of
Aba had mean pH value of 4.43 ± 0.13 which was significantly
lower (P < 0.05) than a mean value of 5.17 ± 0.09 obtained
for Umuahia. Underground waters of high population density
areas had mean pH value of 4.29 ± 0.16 which differed
significantly from 4.88 ± 0.13 obtained for medium
population density areas. Low population density areas had
significantly higher pH with a value of 5.23 ± 0.10. Levels
of total dissolved solids, Ca2+, Mg2+,
K+, Na+, SO42-,
PO43-, NO3-, Cl-,
and NH4+ in the underground waters
were also influenced by population density and
industrialization. Significant relationship among some of
these minerals were obtained, which indicated that they had
common source.
Key
words:
Industrialization, Nigeria, population density, quality,
underground, water. |
