Geophysical and hydro-physicochemical evaluation of hand-dug wells near a dumpsite in Oyo state, Nigeria
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Scholars Research Library
Abstract
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Access to potable water has become a difficult task in many countries of the world including Nigeria. In Nigeria, the
government is trying her best to make water supply available to the masses but till now this vision has never been
accomplished. If those living in urban areas could not have access to water supply by government, what is the fate
of the people living in rural areas? Therefore, exploitation of groundwater through the construction of hand-dug
wells is a major source of drinking water for majority of the populace as many could not afford the high cost of
drilling borehole. Many people construct these hand-dug wells without linings because they believe that
groundwater is the safest water for consumption without considering the environment these wells will be sited and
other factors regarding to its construction. The aim of this present study is to evaluate the groundwater resources at
Aarada waste disposal site, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. An electromagnetic survey to locate leachate plumes
migration pathways was conducted around Aarada refuse dumpsite, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria using the VLFEM
method. A total of seven VLF-EM profiles were carried out with length ranging between 60 to 150m. Hydrophysicochemical
analysis was also conducted at the peak of the raining season on six water samples taken from six
different hand-dug wells in the research area. The result obtained from the processed VLF-EM data revealed the
presence of leachate (contaminant fluid) at the subsurface in the area. The water quality analysis report showed
hazardously high values of Fe2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and NO3
- to confirm the findings from the VLF-EM survey
Keywords
Q Science (General), QC Physics