Integrated Geophysical and Hydro-chemical Investigations of Impact of the Ijemikin Waste Dump Site in Akure, Southwestern Nigeria, on Groundwater Quality

Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 8, No. 18, June 2018

6 Pages Posted: 18 Jan 2019

See all articles by Oluwaseun E. Odipe

Oluwaseun E. Odipe

Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Allied Health and Environmental Sciences; Centre for Ecological and Environmental Research Management and Studies, Kwara State University, Nigeria

Rasheed Ogunleye

Obafemi Awolowo University

Musa Sulaiman

Obafemi Awolowo University

Suleiman Abubakar

Kano State Ministry of Water Resources

Martins Olorunfemi

Obafemi Awolowo University

Date Written: January 9, 2019

Abstract

Background: Improper waste disposal can negatively impact the ecosystem and constitutes a major human health risk.

Objectives: The present study evaluated the environmental impact on groundwater quality of an open-air waste dump in Akure, southwestern Nigeria, using an integrated geophysical survey and hydro-chemical analysis of water samples.

Methods: The geophysical survey involved three dipole-dipole 2-D imaging profiles and seven vertical electrical soundings (VES) along three traverses. The dipole-dipole data were inverted using the Dipro for Windows software, while the VES data were quantitatively interpreted using partial curve matching and computer assisted 1-D forward modeling with the WINResist software. The VES interpretation results were used to generate geoelectric sections. For the hydro-chemical analysis, samples were taken from five hand-dug wells at various distances from the dumpsite. The samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and some major elements (calcium ion (Ca2+), magnesium ion (Mg2+), chloride ion (Cl-), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-)) whose concentration values were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) standards for assessment of groundwater quality.

Results: The VES curves revealed three distinct geoelectric/geologic layers with thicknesses and resistivities in the range of 0.7 - 2.0 m and 31 - 55 Ωm for topsoil, 6.2 - 14.6 m and 13 - 114 Ωm for the weathered layer, and a fresh basement with resistivity values ranging from 344 -∞ Ωm.

In the hydro-chemical analysis, pH values ranged between 7.57 - 7.8, electrical conductivity ranged from 884 - 1510 μS/cm, and TDS ranged between 588 - 1008 mg/l. Concentration values of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ranged between 78 - 132 mg/l and 1.8 - 19 mg/l, respectively.

Conclusions: The results from the combined electrical resistivity methods showed relatively low resistivity values at the topsoil and weathered layers and the hydro-chemical assessment of water samples indicated that the topsoil and groundwater within the dumpsite may have been polluted by leachate.

Keywords: waste dump, leachate, geophysical investigation, hydro-chemical analysis, water quality

Suggested Citation

Odipe, Oluwaseun E. and Ogunleye, Rasheed and Sulaiman, Musa and Abubakar, Suleiman and Olorunfemi, Martins, Integrated Geophysical and Hydro-chemical Investigations of Impact of the Ijemikin Waste Dump Site in Akure, Southwestern Nigeria, on Groundwater Quality (January 9, 2019). Journal of Health & Pollution Vol. 8, No. 18, June 2018 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3312535

Oluwaseun E. Odipe (Contact Author)

Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Allied Health and Environmental Sciences ( email )

Kwara State University
Centre for Ecological and Environmental Research
Malete
Nigeria
+2348138032921 (Phone)

Centre for Ecological and Environmental Research Management and Studies, Kwara State University, Nigeria ( email )

Ilorin
Nigeria

Rasheed Ogunleye

Obafemi Awolowo University ( email )

P.M.B 13
Ile Ife
Ile-Ife, Osun 230001
Nigeria

Musa Sulaiman

Obafemi Awolowo University ( email )

P.M.B 13
Ile Ife
Ile-Ife, Osun 230001
Nigeria

Suleiman Abubakar

Kano State Ministry of Water Resources ( email )

Nigeria

Martins Olorunfemi

Obafemi Awolowo University ( email )

P.M.B 13
Ile Ife
Ile-Ife, Osun 230001
Nigeria

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