Assessment of groundwater quality of Lokoja basement area, North-Central Nigeria

The hydrochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater in Lokoja basement area have been evaluated based on different indices for assessing groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. Twenty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, major ions and heavy metals. The results revealed that the groundwater is slightly alkaline, with little variations in chemical composition. For example, electrical conductivity (EC) ranges from 242 mu S/cm to 1835 mu S/cm. The abundance of the major ions is in the order of Ca2+ > Na+> Mg2+> K+> Fe2+/3+ = HCO3 > Cl- > NO3 > SO4 > PO4. Based on the hydrochemical data, four hydrochemical facies were identified namely, Ca-Mg-HCO3, Na-K-HCO3, Na-K-Cl-SO4 and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 and these facies depict groundwater recharge zone, transition flow zone, deep flow zone and mixed water zone respectively. Groundwater from the area is unsuitable for drinking and domestic purposes as some of the ions and heavy metals of health concerns are well above the stipulated guideline values. Irrigation water quality indicators (salinity, Na % and Mg %), reveal that the groundwater is unsuitable for irrigation purposes. Interpreted statistical analysis reveals that the groundwater chemical compositions are controlled predominantly by weathering of litho units of the basement rocks and by drainage from domestic wastes.