Hydrogeochemical evaluation of Groundwater Suitability for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes in Coastal Community of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in Okerenkoko Gbaramatu Kingdom, South-South Region, Nigeria using standard methods. The results obtained in the study indicates that over 70% of the groundwater under investigation fell in the category of C3S1 and C4S1 in the USSL salinity diagram implying high to very high salinity. The concentration of Lead (Pb) in all the samples collected exceeded the recommended value of 0.01 mg/L set by the World Health Organization and the Standard Organization of Nigeria respectively. Groundwater from the study area can only serve as irrigation purpose for salt tolerant crops like the sweet potato, grain-sorghum, sugar beet, cotton and carrot. The production of these crops on the vast arable fallow land will contribute significantly to food security and economic advancement of the study area and the global community at large. Conversely, the groundwater cannot be consumed unless treatment is administered.