Author(s)

EZE R. ONUKWUGHA, OGEDI H. IBEARUGBULEM, JOSHUA R. UBOH

Abstract

WASH related infections in Nigeria at large can be attributed partially to incessant and unlicensed disposal of hazardous waste in unprotected sanitary landfills. However, the contaminant plume of this potential point source of waste depletes the quality of groundwater sources, thus rendering it unsafe for consumptive purposes. Empirically, the WASH drive towards accessing quality water per capita has provided a push for the evaluation of water quality for boreholes located around a waste disposal site along Umuerim, Nekede, Owerri-West Local Government area of Imo state, Nigeria. The objective of this study is to monitor the physicochemical properties of boreholes over a period spanning five years, as well as developing the water quality index in the study area. In this collaborative work between The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State Ministry of Environment and Umuerim Community, representative sample volumes of 225 cl of water were continuously collected from each of three different boreholes within the vicinity of the dump site. The water samples collected were tested for pH, phosphate, temperature, conductivity, nitrate, turbidity, E-coliform, DO, and BOD. From the test results obtained, the Water Quality Index (WQI) of an overall representative sample evaluated using National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI) is 65.769, which represents water of medium quality. When the individual test results were rated with WHO and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) standards for potable water, the values obtained indicate that the water was of a poor quality and can be attributed to leachate infiltration from the landfill. Thence, further treatment is recommended to ensure potability. Imo State Ministry of Environment and Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri should collaborate and proffer an appropriate waste disposal method, a protected sanitary landfill for waste disposal. However, efforts at sensitizing the community on affordable water treatment options for the various households are already yielding results.

Keywords

aquiferous zone, borehole, dissolved oxygen, dump site, leachate, landfills, plumes, potability, quality index, WASH.