Appraising the Physico-chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metals in Pond Water at Quarry Site in Ngwogwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Quarrying as a land use is a potential source of water pollution but lack of access to safe drinking water has impelled people to make use of pond water from quarry sites. This study investigated the physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals of water samples collected at China quarry site in Ngwogwo Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The concentrations of Cd (0.01±0.00 to 0.02±0.00 mg/l), Pb (6.70±0.78 to 7.87±1.08 mg/l), Ni (1.03±0.04 to 1.37±0.04 mg/l), As (1.99±0.02 to 2.35±0.09 mg/l), Fe (3.66±0.44 to 4.18±0.04 mg/l) and Zn (2.47±0.06 to 3.17±1.13 mg/l) were higher than the permissible limit of drinking water by World Health Organization, WHO and Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON. Also, the values of biochemical oxygen demand, BOD (37.57±1.44 to 53.13±0.86 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand, COD (59.55±0.51 to 61.28±0.64 mg/l), dissolved oxygen, DO (5.14±1.51 to 5.75±1.09 mg/l), Mn (3.64±0.91 to 5.10±1.27 %) and Ca (91.88±0.18 to 102.83±0.59 %) were higher than the permissible limit recommended by WHO. Consequently, it is recommended that quarry workers and inhabitants of Ngwogwo should be discouraged from making use of the pond water since it is not fit and will expose them to serious health challenges. In addition, Ebonyi State Government should demand Environmental Impact Assessment report from miners before issuing operating license to them.