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Nigeria, Katsina State, Katsina

Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in Katsina and environs

The study area, Katsina town and its environs, is located in Katsina State, northwestern Nigeria. It is defined by longitudes 7° 30'E to 7° 45'E and latitudes 12° 52' 10"N to 13° 07' 10"N with a total area of 625km2.\r\n\r\nThe objective of the project was to study the hydrogeochemical characteristics of water in the area and the impact of waste dumps on the water quality. The methods adopted for the project were geological mapping, geophysical studies, hydrogeological mapping and waste management assessment coupled with laboratory analyses of water and soil samples.\r\n\r\nThe area is underlain by both Crystalline Basement rocks and sedimentary rocks and it lies at the eastern periphery of the Iullemmeden (Sokoto) Basin. The conglomeratic sandstone of Gundumi formation constitute the aquifer in the sedimentary area while the weathered overburden, fractured and jointed zones constitute the aquifers in the basement underlain areas as revealed by geophysical studies.\r\n\r\nThe water type in the project area is earth-alkaline (calcium and magnesium) and predominantly chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) water species.\r\n\r\nThere is no officially-designated waste dumpsite(s) in the project area, which resulted in indiscriminate dumping of wastes in unapproved sites such as road sides, drains, streams and river channels. Handdug wells, hand pump boreholes and deep boreholes are located indiscriminately close to dumpsites, latrines, septic tanks and drains.\r\n\r\nThe physical and chemical parameters of the water samples particularly those of the groundwater conformed with international standards of potable water except groundwater in the vicinity of dumpsites, that had electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate, chloride and Coliform Counts exceeding the WHO and SON maximum permissible limits in drinking water, which rendered the water unfit for human consumption, unless treated.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Inserted in the reports are the following maps (1:50,000): Location map, Accessibility map, Drainage map, Geological map, Wet & Dry Seasons Water Elevation Contour maps, Concentration maps of Calcium, Magnesium, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Bicarbonate, Sulphate, Chloride, Nitrate, Phosphate, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc.