HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2010 | Volume: 9 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 539-542
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2010.539.542
Seasonal Variation in Nitrate Levels in Hand Dug Wells in Makurdi Metropolis
Ocheri Maxwell, Iyange Mile and M.C. Obeta

Abstract: Groundwater quality response to changes in season is documented in several studies. In this study, seasonal variation in nitrate levels in hand dug wells in Makurdi metropolis is examined. A total of 15 water samples were collected from hand dug wells and analyzed for nitrate level for both wet and dry seasons. The analysis was done according to standard method of water examination. The results of analyses show that 80% of the wells have nitrate levels above WHO guide limit for drinking water for the wet season as against 67% for the dry season. This implies that consumers of water from these hand dug wells especially children stands a very high of metheamogolineamia. Generally nitrate level in these hand dug wells were noted to be higher in wet season than in the dry season. Source of nitrate in these wells is attributed to use of chemical fertilizers on farms, improper disposal of animal and human wastes and influence of season. All land use activities capable of polluting water should be properly controlled. Water from these wells may be used for other domestic purposes other than drinking. Boiling of water from these should be encouraged to reduce the risk of contracting illness.

Fulltext PDF

How to cite this article
Ocheri Maxwell, Iyange Mile and M.C. Obeta, 2010. Seasonal Variation in Nitrate Levels in Hand Dug Wells in Makurdi Metropolis. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 9: 539-542.

Keywords: Nitrate, season, variation, hand dug wells and water quality

REFERENCES
  • Adelana, S.M.A., 2006. Nitrate Pollution of Groundwater in Nigeria. In: Groundwater Pollution in Africa, Xu Y. and B. Usher (Eds.). Taylor and Francis/Balkema, Leiden, USA., ISBN 13: 978-0-415-41167-7, pp: 37-46

  • APHA-AWWA-WPCF, 1985. Standard Methods of, Examination of Water and Wastes. Port City Press, Baltimore, MD

  • BGS, 2003. British geological survey. Water Aid Fact Sheet, London. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/view/division/bgs/2003.html.

  • BGS, 2003. British geological survey. Water Aid Fact Sheet, London. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/view/division/bgs/2003.html.

  • Calabresa, T.A.C., 1971. Nitrate and phosphate in rural Wisconsin. Ecosystem Proceedings on Farm Animal Wastes, Madison.

  • Ehinola, O.D. and J.J. Coker, 2002. Quality of groundwater and health hazards implication in Agbowo area of Ibadan metropolis, southweatern, Nigeria. Proceedings of the National Conference on Population, Enviroment and Sustainable Development in Nigeria, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

  • Ezeonu, F.C., 1988. Nitrate ingestation, intrastive metabolism, escretion and microbiology. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

  • Foster, S.S.D., A.C. Cripps and A. Smith-Carington, 1982. Nitrate leaching to groundwater. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser. B. Biol. Sci., 296: 477-489.
    CrossRef    Direct Link    

  • Gbodi, T.A. and S.E. Atawodi, 1986. Nitrate content of wells, raw, treated and pipe-borne water, Vom Plateau state, Nigeria. J. Microbiol., Hum. Texicol., 29: 11-14.

  • Gleick, P.H., 2002. Dirty water: Estimated deaths from water-related diseases 2000-2020. Pacific Institute Research Report, pp: 1-12. http://www.pacinst.org/reports/water_related_deaths/water_related_deaths_report.pdf.

  • Kakulu, S.E. and O. Osibanjo, 1992. Pollution studies of Nigerian rivers: Trace metals levels of surface waters in the niger delta area. Int. J. Environ. Stud., 41: 287-292.
    CrossRef    

  • Kogbe, C.A., A. Torkashi, D. Osijuk and D.E. Wozney, 1978. Geology of Makurdi in the Middle Benue Valley Nigeria. Ocassional Publication of Department of Geology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

  • Kristof, N.D., 1997. For third world, water is still a deadly drink, New York Times. Jan. 9, pp: A1-A8. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/09/world/for-third-world-water-is-still-a-deadly-drink.html?pagewanted=all.

  • Kumar, M.D. and T. Shah, 2004. Groundwater Pollution and Contamination in India: The Emerging Challenges. Hindu Survey of Environment, Kasturi and Sons, India, pp: 1-6
    Direct Link    

  • Laftouch, N.E., M. Vanclooster, M. Jahal, O. Witam, M. Aboufirassi, M. Bashir and E. Persoons, 2003. Groundwater nitrate pollution in Estnonira basin, Morocco. Geoscience, 335: 307-317.
    Direct Link    

  • Matthes, G., 1976. Effects of mans activities on groundwater quality. Hydrol. Sci. J., 21: 617-628.
    CrossRef    

  • Maywald, A., B. Zeschmar-Lahl and U. Lahl, 1988. Water Fit to Drink. In: The Earth Report: Monitoring the Battle for our Environment, Goldsmith, E. and N. Hildyard (Eds.). Mitchell Beazley, London, pp: 79-88

  • Nash, L., 1993. Water Quality and Health. In: Water in Crisis, Gleick, P. (Ed.). Oxford University Press, New York, pp: 25-39

  • Nnodu, V.C. and C.I. Ilo, 2002. Bacteriological and physico-chemical examination of well water in Enugu South, Local Government Area of Enugu state. Environ. Rev., 4: 411-419.

  • NPC., 2006. National population commission. Census Publication, Nigeria.

  • Ocheri, M.I., 2006. Analysis of water consumption pattern in Makurdi Metropolis. J. Geography Dev., 1: 71-83.

  • Ogbu, I.S.I. and V.C. Echebiri, 2003. Nitrate and nitrite content of well water in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria. Arch. Environ. Health, 58: 590-591.

  • Ogunbadewa, E.Y., 2002. Some physico-chemical properties of water from hand-dug wells in the basement Complex of South-western Nigeria. J. Water Supply Res. Technol., 51: 407-417.
    Direct Link    

  • Olajire, A.A. and F.E. Imeppeoria, 2001. Water quality assessment of Osun River: studies on inorganic nutrients. Environ. Monitoring Assess., 69: 17-28.
    Direct Link    

  • Omofonmwam, S.I. and J.O. Eseigbe, 2009. Effects of solid wastes on the quality of underground water in Benin Metropolis, Nigeria. J. Hum. Ecol., 26: 99-105.
    Direct Link    

  • Ovrawah, L. and F.K. Hymore, 2001. Quality of water from hand dug wells in the Warri Environs of Niger Delta Region. Afr. J. Environ. Stud., 2: 169-170.

  • Owuama, C.O. and A.P. Uzoije, 2005. Waste disposal and groundwater quality in Owerri, Nigeria. J. Environ. Syst., 31: 69-79.
    Direct Link    

  • Tyubee, B.T., 2009. The influence of ENSO and North Atlantic sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) on extreme rainfall events in Makurdi, Nigeria. J. Meteorol. Climate Sci., 7: 28-33.

  • United Nations, 1997. Commission for sustainable development. Comprehensive Assessment of the Fresh Water Resources of the World, New York.

    • © Science Alert. All Rights Reserved