Water Quality Index Evaluation and GIS-Based Suitability Assessment of Groundwater and Surface Water for Domestic Use in Otuabagi Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
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Abstract
Access to potable water in oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta remains constrained by decades of hydrocarbon exploration and inadequate environmental management. This study evaluates the physicochemical quality of groundwater and surface water in Otuabagi Community, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It assesses their suitability for domestic use through the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial mapping. Ten water samples, comprising five groundwater (borehole) and five surface water sources, were analysed for fourteen physicochemical parameters, including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, calcium, magnesium, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), acidity, iron, and total hydrocarbon content. The WQI was computed using the unit-weight method, with sub-indices derived from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and comparable regulatory permissible limits. Results indicate mean WQI values of 75.79 for groundwater and 59.68 for surface water, with all ten sampling points classified within the "Good" to "Excellent" categories. However, several individual parameters, notably total hardness, alkalinity, and electrical conductivity, exceeded WHO permissible limits at multiple stations. GIS-based Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation revealed localised zones of comparatively poorer water quality in the western part of the study area, coinciding with proximity to abandoned oil wells. The findings demonstrate that while Otuabagi's water resources are broadly within acceptable index thresholds, source-specific and parameter-specific contamination risks persist, warranting routine monitoring, appropriate household treatment, and stricter siting controls for sanitation infrastructure relative to boreholes.
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DOI: 10.1007/s40899-023-00955-7