Prediction of overburden and underground water quality assessment in parts of Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Continental Journal of Environmental Sciences
Title Prediction of overburden and underground water quality assessment in parts of Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2010
Page numbers 26-35
URL http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.406.6408&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Abstract
The present study is aimed at predicting the overburden thickness, determination of the
aquiferous units and groundwater flow pattern as well as the quality of the underground
water. Fifty-six water samples were collected from boreholes, and hand-dug wells located
at different area and field parameters such as geographical co-ordinates, elevation, water
level, colour, odour, taste and pH were determined. The hydrochemical parameters
determined include anions (Cl-
, SO4
2- and HCO3
-
) by titration, cations (Na+
, K+
, Ca2+
,
Mg2+, total Fe and Mn) as well as some trace elements using Inductively Coupled PlasmaOptical
Emission Spectrometry technique. The field and laboratory data were processed
using Geographic Information System technology to produce geochemical maps. The
results of the sounding data show four-five layers of which two-three are aquiferous units.
These include topsoil (aquitard), saturated clay (aquiclude), sandy clay (1st aquifer),
conglomeratic sand (2nd aquifer) and sand (3rd aquifer) with average resistivity of 24, 342,
10.8, 248 and 922.2 ?m respectively. Some of the trace element concentrations exceeded
the maximum permissible levels of the World Health Organization (WHO) Standard and
Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS). Natural and anthropogenic contributions were
identified as the main factors that affect the underground water quality.

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