NITRATE CONCENTRATION IN SHALLOW WELLS OF A SUB-URBAN SETTLEMENT
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Date
2010
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Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
Budo-Nuhu, a sub-urban community of I1orin, has a population of about t ,500 people; it has no access to modern water supply system. Residents mainly rely on shallow wells for both domestic and commercial activities. However, lack. of sewerage network and poor living condition of the people have led to progressive deterioration of groundwater quality in the area. This is due to closeness of the settlement to farmsteads, high rate of animal domestication, widespread use of open dumps and liquid waste disposal through surface impoundments. This paper seeks to examine the concentration of nitrate in shallow wells in Budo Nuru, 23 water wells were sampled, and the water samples were analyzed for nitrate concentration using cadmium reduction method. The result of chemical analysis revealed high nitrate concentration in wells as 62-of the wells have nitrate values above the 50mgll upper limit recommended by WHO (I 984) for drinking water. The study thus suggest ways of reducing the impact of excessive nitrate concentration in wells.
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Keywords
Sub-urban, shallow well, sewerage, cadmium reduction, drinking water standard