Characterization of Groundwater Quality using Water Quality Index in Minna City

Abstract

Groundwater as a form of natural resource is used for domestic, industrial water supply and irrigation all over the world. Its regular assessment, therefore, should be encouraged so as to guarantee its safe consumption in terms of quality. This study is aimed at characterizing the groundwater in Minna city with water quality index (WQI) using weighted arithmetic index method. 180 groundwater samples from four sub-areas within Minna city and subjecting them to comprehensive physicochemical analyses using APHA standard methods of analysis. For the characterization, 12 parameters were considered which included pH, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, total dissolved solids, iron, and manganese. Correlation matrix using SPSS 22 was conducted on the parameters to check the relationships among the water quality parameters. The WQI for these samples ranges from 121.54 to 155.33, with Chanchaga water samples having the lowest value of 121.54 while Bosso recorded the highest. The high values of WQI has been attributed to the higher values of Manganese, sulphate, total hardness, total alkalinity, and particularly total dissolved solids in the groundwater. Significant correlation was observed in all sampling areas between electrical conductivity, chloride, magnesium, sodium, and total hardness at 0.01 level and with manganese at 0.05 level. The results of analyses have been used to suggest the most critical parameter in groundwater quality. The analysis also reveals that the groundwater of the area needs some degree of treatment before consumption, and it also needs to be protected from the perils of contamination.