Quality Water, Not Everywhere: Assessing the Hydrogeochemistry of Water Quality across Ebocha-Obrikom Oil and Gas Flaring Area in the Core Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Pollution, 8(3), 751-778. doi: 10.22059/poll.2021.331612.1201, 2022

28 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2022

See all articles by Morufu Olalekan Raimi

Morufu Olalekan Raimi

Federal University Otuoke; Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Community Medicine

Henry Olawale Sawyerr

Kwara State University

Clinton Ifeanyichukwu Ezekwe

University of Port Harcourt - Department of Geography and Environmental Management

Afolabi Olaniyi Opasola

Kwara State University

Date Written: May 31, 2022

Abstract

In Rivers State, Nigeria, indigenous communities of Ebocha-Obrikom have access to the nearly worst drinking water quality in the province. Accordingly, there are some concerns on various subjects, extending from worsening water quality to deficiency of support from oil companies operating in the environment. The minute accessible water is suspected, or recognized, to be unsafe or hazardous for human consumption, likely to place the community people under a wasted health category.

This paper attempts to compare water quality parameters in the vicinity of Gas Flaring Area of Ebocha-Obrikom of Rivers State with that of the recommended standards. It employs standard analytical procedures, with all sampling, conservation, transportation, and analysis following standard procedures described in APHA (2012). All collected samples are transported to the laboratory in an icebox to prevent degradation of the organic substances. Results depict that Turbidity, DO, BOD, COD, TSS, Magnesium, Iron, Cadmium, Lead, Chromium, and Nickel have exceeded the desirable limit meant for drinking purpose and could potentially pose threats to human societies. Hence, as the water remains unsuitable for drinking, the inhabitants become more vulnerable in their total lifetime period of exposure through continuous consumption of unsuitable drinking water. It is recommended that the local government environmental health officers and other regulatory agencies frequently monitor the levels of these pollutants within the area and ensure strict adherence to guidelines to ensure a healthy environment. As exposure to the above stated parameters can have a remarkable impact on human health living in the vicinity of the gas flaring area through drinking water around the study area, groundwater needs to be treated prior to any use for household or drinking purposes. Thus, this study would help in decision making of the stakeholders and relevant authorities for execution of reasonable groundwater management strategies and remediation plans in the area to protect public and environmental health.

Keywords: Decision making, indigenous populations, wasted health, water quality, exploratory analysis, Core Niger Delta

JEL Classification: Q27

Suggested Citation

Raimi, Morufu Olalekan and Sawyerr, Henry Olawale and Ezekwe, Clinton Ifeanyichukwu and Opasola, Afolabi Olaniyi, Quality Water, Not Everywhere: Assessing the Hydrogeochemistry of Water Quality across Ebocha-Obrikom Oil and Gas Flaring Area in the Core Niger Delta Region of Nigeria (May 31, 2022). Pollution, 8(3), 751-778. doi: 10.22059/poll.2021.331612.1201, 2022, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4124546 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4124546

Morufu Olalekan Raimi (Contact Author)

Federal University Otuoke ( email )

Department of Environmental Management and
Toxicology
Bayelsa
Nigeria

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.growkudos.com/profile/morufu_raimi

Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Community Medicine ( email )

Nigeria
07038053786 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Morufu_Raimi

Henry Olawale Sawyerr

Kwara State University ( email )

Department of Public and Environmental Health
Malete, Kwara State 240101
Nigeria

Clinton Ifeanyichukwu Ezekwe

University of Port Harcourt - Department of Geography and Environmental Management ( email )

Department of Geography and Environmental
Management
Choba, Rivers State, Rivers State
Nigeria
08033388237 (Phone)

Afolabi Olaniyi Opasola

Kwara State University ( email )

Department of Public and Environmental Health
Malete, Kwara State 240101
Nigeria

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