Aniekan M. Ekanem; Ndifreke I. Udosen
Abstract: Groundwater contamination is of global concern. The study area (Ikot Ekpene - Obot Akara Local
Government Areas) continues to experience a swift increase in human population and associated
economic activities, leading to the generation of more solid wastes. This could result in
groundwater contamination, which can put the local pollution in severe danger. The fundamental
goal of this work is therefore to weigh up the groundwater standard through hydrogeochemical
investigation of groundwater samples and the susceptibility potential of the economically exploited
aquifer units in the area. The results of the electrical geo-sounding data acquired at 28 locations in
the area reveal three to four lithological successions comprising fine/coarse sands and gravels amid
patches of thin clay interbeddings at several places. The primary aquifer in the area is the third
layer, which is between 10.5 and 101.5 m deep with resistivity values between 359.4 and 2,472.8
Ωm. The hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater samples in the area shows that the measured
physicochemical parameters are well within the World Health Organization’s acceptable limits
except for lead and nickel ions. These metals are shown to be the most significant parameters
affecting the groundwater quality in the area. The groundwater quality and susceptibility potential
maps generated seem to correlate well and clearly demarcate the poor groundwater quality/high
susceptibility potential zones. These maps are useful tools that could aid policymakers in successful
groundwater management in the area to meet the needs of the populace.
George, N.J and Thomas, J.E
Abstract: The economic, residential, agricultural, educational, and social relevance of groundwater to coastal residents provoked the selection of FUTIA and its surroundings, located along the Okpobo River and Atlantic Ocean shorelines, for integrated geo-electrical and hydrochemical investigations. This was done to better understand the potentiality, vulnerability, and agronomic implications of using groundwater for home, industrial, and irrigation purposes, which would lead to better planning, management, and conservation of the resource. By applying vertical electrical method involving 1-D and 2-D techniques, potentially prolific surficial (< 30 m depth) and moderately deep (>30 m depth 200m) aquifers were delineated. The study area is fraught with surficial unconfined aquifers drilled to follow the depths of the preexisting productive but vulnerable aquifers near them. The untapped semi-confined to confined aquifers for depths > 30 m and less than 200 m were viewed to have less susceptibility to contaminations due to the presence of overlying argillaceous units concealing them...
I.J. Udom , C.C. Mbajiorgu , E.O. Oboho
Abstract : Intensive piggeries are predominating livestock production and there is rising concern of nutrient pollution from the
use of floodplains and water bodies as convenient sinks for the disposal of untreated wastewater. Conventional
systems are not suitable solutions in preventing water pollution in developing countries due to their prohibitive cost
and highly mechanized system with high energy and minimum inflow requirements which cannot be afforded by
farmers. Natural systems, such as constructed wetlands are less costly, and have low energy requirements. However,
lack of information on their performance in the tropics is among the factors that hinder their adoption as alternative
wastewater treatment system. Successful removal of nutrients in piggery wastewater by constructed wetlands has
been reported in different climatic regions outside Nigeria and their optimal design, performance, effects of plants
and climate change on performance and the prediction of these effects need verification. The objective of this study
was design, construct and test and model the performance of a horizontal subsurface flow wetland for treatment of
piggery wastewater.