ANALYSIS OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY AROUND SOME DUMPSITES IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed groundwater quality around some dumpsites in Jos metropolis, Plateau State,Nigeria. Water samples were collected from sixteen (16) different wells at the peak period of bothdry and rainy seasons from three (3) strategic areas that have major dumpsites in Jos. Six weretaken within (0-30 meters) to dumpsites and the other ten far away (30-150 meters) from thedumpsites, physico-chemical properties of groundwater samples was analyzed in the laboratory.Two basic laboratory techniques were used, that is,: the gravimetric and volumetric techniques,parameters analyzed in the laboratory include, Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Dissolved Solid,Chloride, pH, Turbidity, Iron, Nitrate, Electrical conductivity, E.coli. The results obtained (meanvalues) were compared with the World Health Organization and Nigerian Standards for drinkingwater quality. The concentrations of the analyzed parameters for the dumpsite leachate weregenerally above WHO and NSDWQ standards, indicating that the leachate could contaminategroundwater. From the findings of the research it was discovered that many wells in the studyarea located close to the dumpsite (0-30 meters) have levels of concentration of pollutants ofphysico- chemical (in wells close to dumpsites) compared to wells far from dumpsites < 30m.Generally, the concentrations of the analyzed parameters decreased with increasing distance fromthe dumpsite, indicating that the groundwater sources closer to the dumpsite are at higher risk ofgetting contaminated than those farther away from the dumpsite as indicated by the values ofWater Quality Index (WQI) for samples close to and far from dumpsites. The study recommendedthat adequate and proper planning, design and construction, and strategic management disposalof waste as well as dumpsite to be outlawed and provision of modern sanitary landfills be providedto ameliorate and alleviate the incessant groundwater contamination amongst others.