International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882

Volume 3, Issue 9, December 2014

Investigating Groundwater Quality Using Physical,

Chemical and Bacteriological Parameters
Adegbola, Adedayo Ayodele1, Oyekanmi, Martins Olalekan2, Akeredolu, Damilare Alaba3
Corresponding author: Oyekanmi Martins,
Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,
P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
Groundwater remains a viable source of water to
man.This study examined the groundwater quality in
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
(LAUTECH) Farm. Two (2) groundwater samples
were collected and analysed in the laboratory.Physical,
chemical and microbialparameters conducted on the
samplesincludes:pH, DO, temperature, Phosphorous
(PO43-) ,BOD, COD, Total Fungal Count (TFC), Total
Viable Count (TVC), Total Coliform Count(TCC),
Iron (Fe2+), Sulphate (SO42+),Potassium (K+), and
heavy metals like Lead (Pb2+), Copper (Cu2+) and Zinc
(Zn2+).The concentrations of parameters in the samples
indicated groundwater pollution where some
concentrationwere below the World Health
Organization (WHO) limits for consumption and
United State Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA)
Maximum
Contaminant
Level.The
TFC,TVC and TCC exceeded the standards.
Hardnessof 319mg/L and 638mg/L was detected in
water samples 1 and2 respectively. In the same vein,
higher values of Phosphate and Ammonia- Nitrogen
concentrations
of
0.176mg/L
and
6.03
mg/Lrespectively were found in water sample 1.No
data was obtained forCopper andZinc while the
concentrations of some pollutants were still within the
permissible limits. Microbes in the two samples
exceeded the maximum stipulated by WHO. It is
concluded that groundwater around LAUTECH Farm
was polluted due to agricultural activities on the
farms.Effective groundwater quality monitoring is
recommended.
Keywords: Agriculture; Contaminant; Pollution;
Microbial; Samples

1.

INTRODUCTION

Water plays a significant role in the sustaining all

living things including humans as the body is largely
made up water. Health officials have emphasized the
importance of drinking at least three liters of potable
water every day to maintain good health According to
World Health Organization (WHO, 1985). According
to WHO (1993), water covers more than 70% of the
earth; but only few percentage of the earths water is

available as a source of drinking. It noted that an

important indicator of risk exposure to water related
diseases is lack of access to safe drinking water.
The recent efforts at providing foods in adequate
proportion in Nigeria have brought about increased
agricultural activities which involves the use of agro
chemicals and fertilizers. In addition there has been
tremendous increase in poultry and livestock farming.
Agricultural development is closely related to the
development of fertilizers. Due to its chemical
composition and raw materials, fertilizers can be
polluters of water and soil. Irrepressible application of
fertilizers without the knowledge of soil characteristics
increases the risks of pollution. In the areas of
intensified agriculture, groundwater is endangered, and
pollution with heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates,
pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
becomes the reality.
Therefore, agriculture is primarily classified among
diffuse sources of soil and groundwater pollution by
United Nations. According to the data of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe UN/ECE
(1993), the most common instances of water pollution
in agricultural production occur due to inexpert use of
nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, as well as
pesticides, herbicides and manures.
Shallow unconfined aquifers are highly susceptible to
agricultural contamination provided that the wells are
properly sealed at the surface and between geological
formations (Hendry and Wassenaar, 1999; Remenda et
al., 1996; Rodvang and Simpkins, 2001 cited by
Forrest et al., 2006). This above studies shows the
impact ofgeological and hydrogeological effect on
groundwater. Deshapnde et al. (2012) superficially
linked the geological characteristics of the aquifer to
the availability of the trace elements in groundwaterIn
Southwest Nigeria, research had been carried out on
groundwater contaminations. Akinro et al. (2012),
investigated the Impacts of Agricultural Wastes on
Groundwater Pollution in Lipakala Farms, Ondo
Southwest Nigeria. The purpose of this work is to
investigate the groundwater quality of Ladoke
Akintola University of Technology Farm (LAUTECH
Farm),Ogbomoso North, Nigeria.

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3, Issue 9, December 2014

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ogbomoso is located in southwestern part of
Nigeriabetween latitude 80670 and 80698.7 north
and between longitude 41428.2E and 41456.9
east.Ogbomoso North Local Government Area (LGA)
is bounded in the North and the East by Surulere LGA,
in the South by Ogbomoso South LGA and in the West
by Orire LGA. Ogbomoso North has her headquarter
located at Kinnira, Ogbomoso. The principal
occupation of the majority of the population is farming
and trading although. The populations according to
2006 census figures consists of 103,319 male, 95,401
female and a total population of 198,720 inhabitants
who are mostly the Yorubas. The vegetation is
savannah which makes farming the major occupation
of the people of the area (Figure 2). Figure 1 displays
the Satellite Map showing location of Oyo State and
Figure 3 shows the Map of Ogbomoso metropolis.
2.1 The Study Area.
LAUTECH farm is a university owned farm which
covers thousands of acres of land. The workforce
consists of both indigenous skilled and unskilled
labours. Horticulture, fishery, livestock animals such
as pigs,rabbits, goats, sheep, cattle and about 500,000
poultry birds of various types (layers, broilers etc.)
shows the activities on the farm. It serves as a major
source of food to Ogbomosoland and her environs.
Planting on the farm includes crops ranging from
maize, vegetables, cassava, yams to perennial ones like
tree crops. Organic and inorganic manure from
husbandry are applied in the mixed cropping system.
Shallows and deep well are scattered around the study
area.
2.2
Samples Collection and Laboratory
Analysis
A reconnaissance survey was carried out at the study
areas andtwo (2) groundwater samples were collected
from the farm. The sampling was carried out during
the raining season. Samples were solely taken from
agricultural
fields
early
morning
with1.5Litrescontainers (Table 1).Sampling containers
were sterilized, rinsed thoroughly with the waters to be
sampled also, the containers used to draw the water
was also sterilized. Samples were labeled GW1 and
GW2 which was securely sealed in the Ice parked
coolers. The two groundwater(GW) samples
weretransported to the laboratory within few hours of
collection for analyses of microbial, physical and
chemical parameters.The microbial analyses covered
Total
Fungal
Count
(TFC),Total
Coliform
Count(TCC) and Total Viable Count(TVC). Physical
and chemical parameters tested for include Turbidity,
Total Hardness Temperature, pH, Total Dissolved
Solids (TDS), Turbidity, Total Hardness, Conductivity,

Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Suspended Solids

(TSS), Total Alkalinity, Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD), Dissolve Oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen
Demand
(COD),
Lead(Pb2+),
Iron
(Fe2+),
+
3Potassium(K ), Phosphate(PO4 ), Sulphate (SO42-),
Zinc(Zn2+), Nitrogen Ammonia(NH42+),
and
Copper(Cu2+).
3.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1The pH and Electrical Conductivity

During the present study, pH of GW1 was 5.90and
6.35 in GW2 (Table 3) which were found to be within
the permissible limits of WHO and USEPA. The pH
signifies the presence of calcium carbonate
(calcareous) which is one of the geological structures
of Ogbomoso (Olafisoye et al., 2012). Field research
indicates that drinking water with a pH lower than 6
can impair broiler performance.The EC in GW1 was
339uS/and 565 uS/cm in GW2. The EC values in all
the samples water samples were found to be within
the permissible limits of WHO standards.
3. 2Nitrogen Ammonia
When nitrogenous organic matter is destroyed by
microbiological activity, ammonia is produced and is
therefore found in many groundwaters. Nitrifying
bacteria such as converts ammonia into nitrites and
then into nitrates. The use of both organic and
inorganic fertilizer on the farms had made this
possible. Nitrates concentration in this study area will
invariably be high. This in turn is responsible for
eutrophication. A snapshot of the occurrences on the
farm (Figure 4 and Figure 5) revealed the possible
Nitrogen Cycle in the study area. Higher
concentrations occur in water polluted by sewage,
fertilisers, and agricultural wastes containing organic
nitrogen, free ammonia or ammonium salts
(UNEP/WHO, 1996). WHO specifies 1.5mg/L for
Ammonium concentration in drinking water but NH4
was higher the two samples i.e. 6.03mg/L and 2.07
mg/L. The higher value in GW1 is as a result of the
intensity of inorganic manure from the poultry,
piggery, goat and rabbit rearing unit of the farm which
leach into the ground.
3.3 Potassium and Phosphate
Potassium is an essential element in both plant and
human nutrition and occurs in groundwater as a result
of mineral dissolution. Higher Potassium concentration
was found in GW2. The increased use of fertilizers has
not increased the potassium in the samples analysed
due to inefficient mineral dissolution.Phosphate on the
other hand is also was not high. Groundwater rarely
contain more than 0.1 mg/L phosphorus unless they

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3, Issue 9, December 2014

have passed through soil containing phosphate

(UNEP/WHO, 1996).
3.4
Iron Concentration
The USEPA secondary drinking water standard MCL
is 0.3mg/L and WHO recommends 1mg/L. The
concentration of Iron is very low with GW1 and GW2,
0.052mg/L and 0.023mg/L respectively (Table 3).The
low concentration of Fe2+ may be due to absence of
hematite, taconite and pyrite in the geology of the
study area. Another reason for low Iron dissoluton in
the groundwater can be due to the presence of oxgyen.
Fe exists as Fe2+ when there is lower dissolved oxgen.
In addition, the amount of dissolved iron water varies
seasonally.It should be noted that the samples were
collected during the rainy season. According Olafisoye
et al., (2012), Ogbomoso experiences average tropical
annual rainfall of 1247mm and is almost entirely
concentrated in the wet season. This increases the
oxygen of the water and the oxygenated water will
prevent the Fe2+ from dissolving and the water from
the wells will have low concentrations of this
metal.Elevated iron levels in water can cause stains in
plumbing, laundry and cooking utensils and can impart
objectionable taste and colour to foods. Table 3 shows
the Iron content in the samples are still within the
Maximum Contamionat Levels.
3.5 Total Alkalinity and Hardness
For total alkalinity, out of the two(2) samples taken,
38mg/L of GW2 was higher than 33mg/L of GW1.
Hardness exceeded standards. The geology of
Ogbomoso which comprises migmatic and granitic,
calcareous and granulitic rocks is responsible for the
high hardness was above 200mg/L (WHO) and
150mg/L(USEPA).When total hardness is numerically
greater then that of total alkalinity expressed as
CaCO3, the amount of hardness equivalent to alkalinity
is called carbonate hardness.
3.6
Total Disolved Solids and Total Suspended
Solids
The values of TDS in the water samples were high. All
analysed samples surpasses the WHO recommendation
of 1000mg/L. In addition, none of the samples
exceeded the standard of 500mg/L Total Suspended
Solids set by Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
3.7
Lead and Copper
Lead in groundwater is usually as a result of mine or
industrial effluents. No presence of Pb2+ in all the
water samples though WHO and USEPA specifies
Maximum Contamination Level of 0.01mg/L and
0.015mg/L respectively (Table 3).Furthermore, no
traces of copper was detected in GW1 and GW2.

3.8
Turbidity and Temperature
The result shows that turbidity and temperature were
also within the permissible limits set by WHO and
USEPA. The highest temperature of 26.30oC was
discovered in GW1 while lowest of 25oC was in GW2.
3.9 Zinc and Sulphate
The concentration of Zn2+ was 0.19mg/Land 0.14mg/L
in GW1 and GW2 respectively. Sulphate ions (SO42-)
in the groundwater were not intolerable with
29.92mg/l the maximum of all the samples.
3.10
Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxgyen
Demand and Biological Oxygen Demand
During the present study, the dissolved oxygen of
groundwater samples were within the permissible of
WHO. Chemical Oxygen Demand determines the
oxygen required for chemical oxidation of organic
matter. Therefore, the COD in the samples was
3.60mg/L and 4.75mg/L. These values clearly convey
the amount of oxygen consumed by organic matter.
GW1 contain less organic matter than GW2 as a result
of the condition surrounding the well (Table 1). No
data forBOD.
3.11
Total Fungal Count, Total Viable Count
and Total Coliform Count
Total Fungal Count (TFC) - the total yeasts and
moulds in the water samples analysed was above
WHO standards. In addition, the Total Viable Count
(TVC) detected in all samples was overhead the
guidelines provided by the World Health Organization,
therefore all the samples are considered unsafe for
drinking(Table 2). Value of Total Coliform Count (1.8
x 103 cfu/ml) was found in GW2. According to WHO
recommendations, there should not be a single
microbial growth per m/L of drinking water, therefore
all sample contain higher fungal, viable and coliform
count. The unkempt disposal of wastes and organic
matter from poultry which finds their way into
groundwater through infiltration and leaching had
contributed to this high values in the samples. The
water-drawer condition may also have contributed to
microbial activities.
4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
From this study, the following conclusions were
drawn:
(i)
The concentration of Nitrogen Ammonia and
some parameters has increased beyond the
maximum concentration limits stipulated.
This is as a result of the intensity of the use of
organic and inorganic fertilizer, herbicides and
other pesticides which has leached into the
groundwater table (Forrest et al., 2006).

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3, Issue 9, December 2014

(ii)

Due to the high level of microbes, the water is

unsafe for human drinking. The use of water
for irrigation and to some extent feeding
livestock is suggested.
It is recommended that groundwater in the area should
be monitored thorough constant research so as to keep
an eye on the changes in groundwater chemistry thus
protecting the ecosystem.
ACKNOWLEDEGEMENT
The authors would like to thank all staff of
Civil
Engineering
Department
(LAUTECH),
Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria National Horticulture
Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria.
REFERENCES
[1] Adeboyejo, T. O. (2007). Household Response
to Urban Encroachment on Rural Hinterland in
Ogbomoso Urban Fringe. Nigeria..
[2] Akinro, A. O., Oloruntade, A. J. and
Imoukhuede, O. B.
(2012). Impacts of
Agricultural Wastes on Groundwater Pollution
in Lipakala Farms, Ondo Southwest Nigeria.
Journal of Environment and Earth Science.
Available Online: www.iiste.org. ISSN 22243216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online), 2(4).
[3] Deshapnde, S.M., Aher, K.R., and Gaikwad,
G.D. (2012). Assessment of Groundwater
Quality and its Suitability for Drinking Uses in
Warora tehsil, District Chandrapur, India.
[4] Forrest, F., Rodvang, J., Reeddyk, S. and
Wuite J. (2006). A survey of Nutrients and
major ions in Shallow groundwater of
Albertas Agricultural Areas. Prepared for the
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
Rural Water Program, Project Number: 45904-20-4. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural
Development, Edmonton, Alberta. pp. 116.
[5] Hendry, M.J.,and Wassenaar L. I. (1999).
Implications of the Distribution of D in Pore
Waters for Groundwater Flow and the Timing
of Geologic Events in a Thick Aquitard
System. Water Resources. Res.35:1751-1760
[6] Map of Nigeria showing Ogbomoso, Oyo
State. (n.d.). Retrieved January 5, 2014, from
http://www.nairaland.com
[7] National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
(2012). United State Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington DC. [Online], EPA 822S-12-001.
Available
from:http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/
[Accessed 8 November 2013]
[8]

Electromagnetic and Hydro-physicochemical

Methods in the Investigation of Groundwater
Contamination at Aarada Waste Disposal Site,
Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria. Australian
journal of basic and applied sciences, ISSN
1991-8178 6(8): pp. 401-409.
[9] Ramenda, V. H., Van Der Kamp, G. and
Cherry (1996). Use of Vertical Profile of 18O
to Constrain Estimates of Hydraulic
Conductivity in a Thick, Unfractured
Aquitard. Water Resour. Res.32:2979-2987.
[10] Rodvang, S. J., Simpkins, W. W.
(2001Agriculture contaminants in Quaternary
aquitards: A Review of Occurrence and Fate in
North America. Hydrogeol. J. 9:44-59.
[11] Satellite Map Showing the Location of Oyo
State Nigeria (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2011
from http://www.maphill.com
[12] Thomas, H. (2009). Agricultural Imparts on
Groundwater Nitrate. University of California,
Davis.
[13] UN/ECE: Protection of Water Resources and
Aquatic Ecosystems (1993), ECE/ENWA/31,
Water Series, 1, United Nations, New York.
[14] United Nations Environment Programme and
World Health Organization (1996). Water
Quality Monitoring - A Practical Guide to the
Design and Implementation of Freshwater
Quality Studies and Monitoring Programmes
Edited by Jamie Bartram and Richard Balance.
ISBN 0 419 22320 7 (Hbk) 0 419 21730 4
(Pbk)
[15] World Health Organization (1985, 1993).
Guideline for Drinking Water Quality vol. 3.
Drinking Water Quality Control in Small
Community
Supplies.
World
Health
Organization, Geneva.
[16] World Health Organization. (2008). Drinking
Water Quality: Third Edition incorporating the
First and Second Addenda, Vol. 1:
Recommendations.
Geneva.
[Online]
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xt.pdf
[Accessed 1 November 2013]

Olafisoye E. R., Sunmonu, L. A., Ojoawo, A.,

Theophilus, T. A., and Oladejo, O. P. (2012).
Application of Very Low Frequency
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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3, Issue 9, December 2014

Figure 6: Sampling well 2

Figure 5: Cattle Rearing Field

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Volume 3, Issue 9, December 2014

Table 1: Field Log Showing Well Conditions

of

Depth
of
Water
(m)

Weather

Husbandry

Sample
Label

Location of
Vol.
Condition of
Sampling
Sample
the Well
Point
taken

GW1

LAUTECH Covered

1.5L

1.90

Humid

Cattle, Poultry, Goat and

Rabbit rearing unit

GW2

LAUTECH Covered

1.5L

1.23

Humid

Beans, and poultry

Table 2: Microbial characteristics of the groundwater samples analysed per mL

Samples

TFC(cfu/ml)
0.2
0.2
0

GW1
GW2
WHO

TVC(cfu/ml)
0.7
0.7
0

TCC(cfu/ml)
1.4
1.8
0

All Values in the table x 1000

Samples were collected at the site early in the morning using sterile containers and amber colouredbottles
and was immediately transported to the Laboratory for microbial/Bacteriological analyses
*Sampling Method: Manual
Table 3: Physical and Chemical characteristics of the groundwater samples analysed
Spls

pH

Copper T

GW1
GW2
WHO

5.90
Nd
6.35
Nd
6.5-8.5 1.00

USEPA

6.5-8.5 1.00

EC

TDS

Iron

25.00 339 1675 0.0519

26.30 565 1925 0.0232
39.70 2500 1000 1.0000
500

TSS

TA

Sulphate

Phos Turb.

315
490
500

33
38

12.13
29.92
400.00

0.176 0.12
0.074 0.11
0.100 5.00

250.00

0.100 5.00

1.0000

NH3

BOD COD

DO

Hards. Zinc Potassium Lead

Odour

6.03

Nd

3.02

319

0.19 0.18

Nd

mild

2.07
1.50

Nd 4.75
10.00 10.00

2.26
6.00

638
200

0.14 0.35
3.00 12.00

Nd
mild
0.01.0 U

3.60

0.015
All units in mg/L except T in degree celcius, EC in US/cm,Turbidity in NT
Where T is Temperature, TA is Total Alkalinity, U-Unobjective,
Nd -No Data

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