Evaluation of Groundwater Quality of Coastal Aquifer Systems in Buguma City, Rivers State South-Southern Nigerian

Abstract

Saline intrusion has been a major source of groundwater contaminant in coastal regions. The situation has adversely affected groundwater quality . Being an essential source of freshwater for the teeming population over the world and indeed Nigeria and its suitability for various uses is largely dependent on physico-chemical quality, this study therefore  selected for its quality  assessment, the coastal aquifer of Buguma in rivers state Nigeria. Water samples collected from various locations using systematic random sampling were subjected to physico-chemical analysis .  sodium (Na²⁺) (288mg/l) chloride(Cl^-)(414.7mg/l) and  nitrate (N03-)(64.45 mg/l) ions dominated the major ions of sample results and also exceeded  the  Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality NSDWQ 2007 and WHO drinking water standard 2006. Among the trace elements, Fe²⁺ and  As ions  were above the drinking water regulatory limits of  NSDWQ and WHO. Classification techniques were employed  to  provide  an assessable information on the chemical composition  of the water samples  like  the major ions  in the analysis. The high proportion ofNa²⁺, K⁺ and Cl^- as  typified by the graphs  classified the water  as Na-K, Cl^- type which confirmed saltwater intrusion. The  water therefore needs adequate treatment  to raise it to portable standard.

Keywords;  Groundwater, Water Quality,  Buguma,  Major ions, Trace Elements, Geochemistry.