Browsing by Author "Iwuji, Callistus Chukwunenye"

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    Geochemical characteristics of groundwater resources in parts of Okitankwo watershed, SouthEastern, Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2017-06) Iwuji, Callistus Chukwunenye
    The geochemical characteristics of groundwater resources in parts of Okitankwo watershed, was carried out in order to evaluate its chemical composition and quality profile with respect to the environmental setting of the study area. A total of twelve groundwater samples were collected in grid, and analyzed for major cations and anions and trace elements like Fe and Pb. The major cation concentrations determined were in the order of Na+ >Ca2+ > Mg 2+> K + with mean values of 4.64, 3.44, 2.46 and 0.38Mg/L respectively and that of major anions concentrations of groundwater is of the order HCO3 2- > SO4 2->Cl- with mean values of19.07, 11.87 and 7.92 Mg/L respectively. Two major water types were identified based on characterization on Piper Trillnear digram. They are Ca2+ - Mg2+ (SO4 2- ) and Na (HCO3 2- ).Thus, this indicates diverse effects of bedrock lithologies ionic exchange processes, precipitation and weathering. However, the plot of Durov, Schoeller and Stiff diagram conform to the water chemistry of the study area. More so, the result of the geochemical analyses shows that the groundwater is generally acidic with pH values ranges from 4.32 to 6.4 with mean value of 5.37. The Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) ranges from 0.06 to 0.81 with mean value of 0.48 indicating that the groundwater is suitable for agriculture. The result of the geochemical analyses also shows that the groundwater is fresh, soft and potable. But some of the groundwater resources may however be unsuitable for industrial use due to the concentration of Fe is above the permissible limit (0.2Mg/L) for industries and will require treatment.