Physicochemical characteristics and heavy metals of groundwater during the wet and dry seasons at the Lafarge cement factory environment, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined the physical, chemical, and heavy metals in groundwater from boreholes and hand‐dug wells at the Lafarge cement factory environment at Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Water samples were obtained from 20 sampling locations during the wet and dry seasons of 2019. The 17 parameters determined include the pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, alkalinity, salinity, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, copper, lead, iron, and cadmium. The samples were analyzed using titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods. Correlation analysis was applied as part of the analytical tool in this study. The result indicated low physiochemical concentration of pH, total hardness, sulfate, nitrate, chloride, magnesium, calcium (>1% to 15%), and electrical conductivity (>1000 μS/cm) and fell within the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and World Health Organization (WHO) desirable and maximum permissible limits for potable water during the wet and dry seasons. However, phosphate was above the standard limit for portable water of 6.5 mg/L in all sampling locations, whereas the total alkalinity was above the WHO standard limit (200 mg/L) in 12 locations in the wet seasons and a location in the dry season. Salinity was also above standards in one and four locations in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Lead and cadmium were not detected in most locations, whereas iron, lead, cadmium, and copper were above standard limits in some locations. A significant relationship exists between the heavy metals and some of the physiochemical parameters at p ≥ .05 and p ≥ .01. The polluted water in most locations is capable of resulting in an adverse health hazard. Thus, this study explains the effect of physicochemical and heavy metals on water management at Sagamu and is important for water resource planning.