Effects of Solid Wastes on the Quality of Selected Well Water in Odo-Oro Area of Ikere, Ekiti in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents an assessment of the impact of uncontrolled and unscientific disposal of Solid waste on ground water in Ikere Ekiti town, Nigeria. In this study, well water quality around solid waste dumpsite sites was investigated. Ground water quality analysis was carried out on water samples collected from four wells labelled 1 to 4 close to solid waste disposal sites. Physico-chemical parameters of the water samples (such as temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total hardness, phosphates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates) were measured. Results of analysis across the four samples gave a temperature range of 28⁰C - 32.0⁰C, pH 7.26 - 7.75, conductivity 393.0 - 416.0 µm/cm, BOD 4.0 - 4.5 mg/l, DO 7.5 - 9.9 mg/l, COD 4.0 - 70.0 mg/l, phosphates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates 0.17 – 0.30 mg/l, 10.1 – 25.0 mg/l, 3.7 – 11.5 mg/l, and 0.113 - 0.22 mg/l respectively, total hardness 32.2 and 38.1 mg/l. evidences from the above measurements showed a substantial level of contamination across all samples of water. Based on these outcomes it was recommended that wells should be sited at least 30m from solid wastes dump site, Appropriate place should be located at the outskirt of the town for refuse / disposal, the wells should be treated at least three times in a year, the regulatory agency should employ a geologist on its staff list, preferably one trained in the area of hydrogeology, to assist in solid wastes site selection within the states, the use of groundwater monitoring wells should be considered in those areas where some doubts exist as to future effects of a particular solid wastes operation, the regulatory agency should not discourage novel methods of collecting and treating refuse leachates for certain installations where proper monitoring can be exercised.

Keywords: Solid Waste, Well Water, Ground water, Dump Site, Physico-chemical,

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-7-05

Publication date:July 31^st 2020