The Soil and Water Quality of Waru Area (Fct), North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Field mapping of Waru community of Abuja Municipal Area Council revealed four
major rock types namely; Migmatite, Biotite gneiss, Granite gneiss and Anatectic
granite. Twenty-two (22) water samples (stream, hand-dugs and boreholes) were
collected for analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Heavy metals detected
such as Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) showed concentrations greater
than the World Health Organisation (WHO) permitted limit in drinking water. Their
concentration ranges are (0.046-0.236) mg/L, (0.034-0.121) mg/L and (0.003-
0.023) mg/L, respectively. The high concentration of these metals (Cr, Cd and Pb) in
water is purely supported by the high concentration of these elements in the soil
samples, indicating a weathered product of the parents’rocks. Hydrochemical
analysis also revealed two basic water types; Na-SO4 water type and Na-Mg-SO4
water type for the area, with their chemistry being controlled by ion exchange
mechanism and by simple dissolution or mixing. Nemerow’s Pollution Index was
used to determine the contamination status of the area, the results showed some
of the water samples are impure with respect to chromium, cadmium and lead
concentrations. Contamination Factor also indicates a ‘low contamination' for the
area, while Pollution Load Index showed the area is unpolluted