Mary Nkiru Ezemonye B.Sc (U.N.N), M.Sc (U.N.N) (PG/Ph.D/03/35002)
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xxvii SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY OF ENUGU URBAN AREA By Mary Nkiru Ezemonye B.Sc (U.N.N), M.Sc (U.N.N) (PG/Ph.D/03/35002) A Thesis submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies and the Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 2009 xxviii CERTIFICATION Mrs Mary Nkiru Ezemonye, a postgraduate student in the Department of Geography, specialising in Hydrology and Water Resources, has satisfactorily completed the requirement for course and research work for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Geography. The work embodied in this thesis is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other diploma or degree of this or any other university. ______________________ _____________________ Prof. R.N.C. Anyadike (External Examiner) (Supervisor) __________________________ Dr. I.A. Madu Head, Department of Geography) 2009 xxix ABSTRACT The central aim of this study is to determine the quality of the surface and ground water and to determine the Water Quality Index (WQI) cum the prevalent water related diseases identifiable in Enugu urban area where rapid population growth has not been matched by development of facilities. The study used primary data: water samples from rivers and wells and patient records from fifty hospitals in Enugu. Ambient monitoring of the water sources was observed for one year. Values for 16 selected physical, chemical and biological parameters were determined from laboratory analysis and these were compared to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guideline for drinking water. Twelve parameters were within acceptable limits; while four exceeded the WHO maximum permissible levels. It was observed that all the rivers and wells sampled had very high bacteriological contaminations. On the bases of values obtained per parameter, seasonal and spatial variations were observed to exist between rivers and wells. The WQI obtained for the rivers and wells utilizing nine of the sampled parameters showed that generally, there were of average quality i.e. between 50 and 67. In some months WQI ranging from 35 to 47 were obtained indicating that there were months the water sources recorded qualities that were just fair. Water related diseases were treated in all the sampled hospitals in the urban area. The four major water related diseases were detected while the wards showed variations in seasonal prevalence patterns. To ensure the maintenance of already existing water quality and to reduce the rate of further deterioration of the rivers and wells, it was suggested that the National Water Policy should be reviewed and the overlap of functions of the Ministries mandated to manage the water quality properly redefined. There is a dare need to monitor the water bodies, create data base and utilize them in the management of water quality. The enforcement of existing laws needs better planning so as to achieve compliance to set standards. Community involvement in water quality management is also advocated for. This will be achieved through formal and informal education. The need for sensitization of the populace as regards sterilization of all sources of water abstracted can not be over emphasized. xxx LIST OF FIGURES FIGURES PAGE Fig 1 Location of Enugu urban in Enugu state……………. 13 Fig 2 Enugu urban area showing the L.G.As………………….. 14 Fig 3 Geological map of Enugu urban area…………………… 15 Fig 4 Map of Enugu showing the rivers……………………… 16 Fig 5 Soils of Enugu urban area………………………………. 24 Fig 6 Map of Enugu showing major wards……………………. 25 Fig 7 Map of Enugu showing sample sites……………………. 30 Fig 8 Comparison of river temperatures to WHO’s MPL ……… 48 Fig 9 Comparison of river pH to WHO’s MPL ……. ……………..48 Fig 10 Comparison of river turbidity levels to WHO’s MPL ……… 50 Fig 11 Comparison of river total dissolved solids to WHO’s MPL ….. 51 Fig 12 Comparison of river conductivity levels to WHO’s MPL ………53 Fig 13 Comparison of river total hardness levels to WHO’s MPL …… 54 Fig 14 Comparison of river dissolved oxygen levels to WHO’s MPL...57 Fig 15 Comparison of river biochemical oxygen demand levels to WHO’s MPL ……… …………………………………………… 57 Fig 16 Comparison of river phosphate levels to WHO’s MPL ……….60 Fig 17 Comparison of river sodium levels to WHO’s MPL ………... 60 Fig 18 Comparison of river sulphate levels to WHO’s MPL ……….. 62 Fig 19 Comparison of river iron levels to WHO’s MPL …………. 63 Fig 20 Comparison of river Ammonia levels to WHO’s MPL ……. 65 Fig 21 Comparison of river calcium levels to WHO’s MPL ………… 68 Fig 22 Comparison of river nitrate levels to WHO’s MPL …………… 68 Fig 23 Comparison of river fecal coliform bacteria levels to WHO’s MPL ……………………………………………………………………69 Fig 24 Comparison of temperature of wells to WHO’s MPL ………. 71 Fig 25 Comparison of pH of wells to WHO’s MPL ………………. 72 Fig 26 Comparison of Turbidity levels of wells to WHO’s MPL …… 73 Fig 27 Comparison of total dissolved solids levels of wells to WHO’s MPL … 74 Fig 28 Comparison of conductivity of wells to WHO’s MPL ……….. 75 xxxi Fig 29 Comparison of total hardness levels of wells to WHO’s MPL … 76 Fig 30 Comparison of dissolved oxygen levels of wells to WHO’s MPL …………………………………………………………77 Fig 31 Comparison of biochemical oxygen demand levels of wells to WHO’s MPL…………………………………………………….78 Fig 32 Comparison of Phosphate levels wells to WHO’s MPL …………79 Fig 33 Comparison of sodium levels of wells to WHO’s MPL …………80 Fig 34 Comparison of sulphate levels of wells to WHO’s MPL ……… 81 Fig 35 Comparison of Ammonia levels of wells to WHO’s MPL …… 82 Fig 36 Comparison of calcium levels of wells to WHO’s MPL ……… 83 Fig 37 Comparison of nitrate levels of wells to WHO’s MPL ………. 84 Fig 38 Comparison of well fecal coliform bacteria levels of WHO’s MPL………………………………………………………… 85 Fig 39 Rainy season temperature variation pattern of the rivers……. 88 Fig 40 Dry season temperature variation pattern of the rivers………. 88 Fig 41 Rainy season pH variation pattern of the rivers……………… 90 Fig 42 Dry season pH variation pattern of the rivers……………….. 90 Fig 43 Rainy season turbidity variation pattern of the rivers………... 92 Fig 44 Dry season turbidity variation pattern of the rivers…………... 92 Fig 45 Rainy season total dissolved solids variation pattern of the rivers 94 Fig 46 Dry season total dissolved solids variation pattern of the rivers 95 Fig 47 Rainy season conductivity variation pattern of the rivers…….. 95 Fig 48 Dry season conductivity variation pattern of the rivers………. 96 Fig 49 Rainy season hardness variation pattern of the rivers………… 97 Fig 50 Dry season hardness variation pattern of the rivers…………... 97 Fig 51 Rainy season dissolved oxygen variation pattern of the rivers…..98 Fig 52 Dry season dissolved oxygen variation pattern of the rivers…....99 Fig 53 Rainy season biochemical oxygen demand variation pattern of the rivers………………………………………………………. 101 Fig 54 Dry season biochemical oxygen demand variation pattern of the rivers……………………………………………………….. 101 Fig 55 Rainy season phosphate variation pattern of the rivers……. 102 xxxii Fig. 56 Dry season phosphate variation pattern of the rivers -----------102 Fig. 57 Rainy season sodium variation pattern of the rivers -------------103 Fig. 58 Dry season sodium variation pattern of the rivers ----------------104 Fig. 59 Rainy season sulphate variation pattern of the rivers ------------105 Fig. 60 Dry season sulphate variation pattern of the rivers ---------------105 Fig. 61 Rainy season iron variation pattern of the rivers -------------------107 Fig. 62 Dry season iron variation pattern of the rivers ---------------------107 Fig. 63 Rainy season ammonia variation pattern of the rivers -----------109 Fig. 64 Dry season ammonia variation pattern of the rivers --------------109 Fig. 65 Rainy season calcium variation pattern of the rivers --------------110 Fig. 66 Dry season calcium variation pattern of the rivers ----------------111 Fig. 67 Rainy season nitrate variation pattern of the rivers ------------- -112 Fig. 68 Dry season nitrate variation pattern of the rivers -----------------112 Fig. 69 Rainy season fecal coliform bacteria variation pattern of the rivers -----114 Fig. 70 Dry season fecal coliform bacteria variation pattern of the rivers -------114 Fig. 71 Seasonal temperature pattern of the rivers -------------------------116 Fig. 72 Seasonal pH pattern of the rivers -------------------------------------117 Fig. 73 Seasonal turbidity pattern of the rivers ------------------------------119 Fig. 74 Seasonal total dissolved solids pattern of the rivers ----------------120 Fig. 75 Seasonal conductivity pattern of the rivers ---------------------------122 Fig. 76 Seasonal total hardness pattern of the rivers ------------------------122 Fig. 77 Seasonal dissolved oxygen pattern of the rivers ---------------------124 Fig. 78 Seasonal biochemical oxygen decimal pattern of the rivers -------------125 Fig. 79 Seasonal phosphate pattern of the rivers ----------------------------------127 Fig. 80 Seasonal sodium pattern of the rivers --------------------------------------127 xxxiii Fig. 81 Seasonal sulphate pattern of the rivers -------------------------------------128 Fig. 82 Seasonal iron pattern of the rivers -------------------------------------------130 Fig. 83 Seasonal ammonia pattern of the rivers ------------------------------------131 Fig. 84 Seasonal calcium pattern of the rivers ---------------------------------------132 Fig. 85 Seasonal nitrate pattern of the rivers -----------------------------------------133