Impact of solid waste on groundwater quality in selected dumpsites in AkwaIbom State, Nigeria using resistivity and hydrochemical data

Abstract

This study examines the impact of solid waste on groundwater quality around three municipal dumpsites in AkwaIbom State, Nigeria using resistivity and hydrochemical data. Thirty vertical electrical soundings and ten electrical resistivity tomography data were acquired across the area using Schlumberger array. The resistivity data which were analyzed with the aid of IPI2WIN software formed the input data for estimating and modeling leachate parameters. Twelve groundwater samples collected around the area were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The leachate parameters computed from resistivity interpretation across the area show thickness (2 to 56 m); hydraulic conductivity (6.19 to 24.7 m/day); transmissivity (96.63 to 1351.18 m²/day) and erodibility (104.36 to 2948.94 m/day). The hydrochemical analyses reveal elevated values of Total Dissolved Solids, Cadmium and high electrical conductivity within the area. The leachate migration paths trend predominantly in NW-SE and NE-SW directions at Uyo and Oron, respectively. The hydrogeological risk models reveal that the static water level crisscrosses the leachate at 35 m in Oron, while Uyo area has 25 m gap between the leachate and the static water levels. The study concludes that Oron dumpsites really contaminated the groundwater quality and makes it unfit for the dwellers.

Keywords

• schlumberger array
• ves curve
• leachate
• transmissivity
• hydrogeological risk model.