Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Impact on Groundwater Quality of Some Selected Areas in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Impact on Groundwater Quality of Some Selected Areas in Maiduguri, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the impact of open dumpsites on the quality of groundwater within the vicinity of solid waste dumpsites in Maiduguri.
The problem of rapid urbanization and poor waste management has resulted in an increased of hand dug wells with some located within the premises of an open dumpsites.
The mean percentage composition of solid waste at the two dump sites were earth/garbage (26%), metal (21%), glass (20%), plastic (19%), polythene (13%), textile (7%), battery (5%) and paper (3%).
Soil sampling was conducted using soil auger for dry and wet season. Total of 34 soil samples and 4 water samples were collected and analysed for physico-chemical characteristics; turbidity,
temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrate (NO3), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), zinc (Zn) iron (Fe), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and manganese (Mn).
Particles size analysis was carried out using Bonyoucos hydrometer method and the texture determined on the USDA triangle.
The soil pH and electrical conductivity was measured using Turbo pH/mV/temp. and EC meter and the soil BOD was determined using Winkler method from the soil filtrate.
INTRODUCTION
Groundwater is one of the most important natural resources which contribute to the global freshwater supply.
In Nigeria, groundwater provides much of the public and domestic water supply, supports agricultural and industrial economies, and contributes its flow to rivers, lakes and wetlands;
and this helps in maintaining balance in the ecosystem (Aizebeokhai, 2011). Groundwater is the primary source of potable water in most parts of Nigeria, particularly in rural areas, which rely on domestic (private) hand-dug wells (Aizebeokhai, 2011).
According to Kumar (2013) despite its reliability, this precious and vital resource is under increasing threats attributed to above ground anthropogenic activities related to uncontrolled urbanization, incessant waste disposal and poor land use management.
In addition, the usefulness of groundwater to humans essentially depends on its chemical status, thus, assessment of groundwater quality is important for the socioeconomic development of most developing and developed countries of the world (Kumar, 2013).
Groundwater quality is an important factor in the context of sustainable water management, the integrity of underlying aquifers is mainly affected by pollution from above ground sources, particularly solid waste disposal (Kumar, 2013).
Uncontrolled urban growth and its resultant effect, especially in developing nations like Nigeria, can adversely affect the quality of underlying groundwater if not properly controlled (Putra and Baier, 2008).
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