Assessment of the physicochemical qualities of groundwater and soils around oil-producing communities in Afam, area of Porthacourt, Niger Delta Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Results from the assessment of physicochemical qualities of groundwater and soils around Afam in Niger Delta done using, statistical model, geo-accumulation indices (I-geo) and water quality indices showed that pH and Cu did not correlate strongly with any of the parameters analyzed in the study area. At 2-tailed of 0.05 levels of significance, moderate correlation exist between dissolved oxygen and Ca > Na, strong to moderate correlation exist between temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) > E.C > Na and Ca, whereas at 2-tailed level of 0.02, very strong correlation exist between E.C and TDS (0.988), > Na (0.966), > Ca (0.957). TDS in turn is strongly correlated with Na (0.987), > Ca (0.972). Fe, Zn, Pb and Cr, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPHC), oil and grease (O&G) (< 0.001 mg/l) did not correlate with any of the physicochemical elements in the samples. At 2-tailed levels of 0.02 and 0.05, no significant correlation exists between alkalinity and salinity in groundwater samples and also with any the elements. Groundwater showed excellent water quality except one (62.307). pH, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Cu in the soil were unpolluted since I-geo values are less than 1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) (2.5194) showed low pollution, O&G (3.8886) showed moderate pollution, while total hydrocarbon content (THC) (6.2069), total organic carbon (TOC) (7.4919) and TPHC (9.4851) showed extreme pollution. The control site appeared to be unpolluted except TOC (6.8721). Percentage of clay particles in the soil is higher than in control.

Keywords

• Correlation coefficient
• Heavy metals
• Geo-accumulation indices (1-geo)
• Petroleum components
• Water quality indices (WQI)
• Soil particle size distribution