Groundwater Quality of Bogoberi in Calabar Municipality in Cross River State, Southeastern Nigeria.

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Groundwater quality investigation was carried out in Bogoberi community in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was conducted to determine the quality of groundwater for drinking and other domestic purposes. Borehole water samples were collected and subjected to standard field and laboratory techniques, and analyzed for the physicochemical parameters. The groundwater samples were slightly acidic and soft when compared with the WHO standards and Nigerian Standards for Drinking water Quality. The electrical conductivity ranged from 97.2 to 254 µS/cm. The alkalinity ranged from 15 to 25 mg/L. The dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 2.5 to 5.2 and 0 to 0.06 mg/L, respectively. The total dissolved solids ranged from 65.12 to 170.18 mg/L. The nitrate and sulphate ranged from 0.15 to 0.48 and 0 to 10.03 mg/L, respectively. The study area is dominated by the Calabar Flank unit. It is underlained by Teritary and Quarternary to Recent sediments known as the Benin Formation (Coastal Plain sands). The Benin Formation consists of alternating sequences of gravel and sand of various grain size, silt, clay and alluvium. In the area, the alternating sediments built up a multi-aquifer system. The Cretaceous sediments include mostly conglomerate, limestone, sandstone, mudstone, shale and marl of Calabar Flank. Statistical analysis gave significant correlation (at 0.05) between electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity, and many other elements. The study aids in the understanding of chemistry of groundwater and setting background for related detailed study for long-term monitoring and management.