EFFECTS OF ARTISANAL MINING ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN ANTANG DISTRICT, JEMA'A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA (original) (raw)

The study analyzed the effects of artisanal mining activities on groundwater quality in Antang district of Jema'a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Groundwater samples was collected from ten (10) randomly selected hand dug wells around the min pits in the peak of the rainy and dry seasons for two years 2018 and 2019, while groundwater samples were collected from two (2) randomly selected hand dug wells in Gidan Waya at the same time period to serve as control. The samples were taken to the laboratory within twenty-four hours for analysis, used, that is; the gravimetric and volumetric techniques parameters were measured and mean values recorded. The results revealed that the level of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), nitrate, iron, magnesium, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and hardness in the water sample were quite high. With the exception of pH and Total Coliform (TCC), all other physico-chemical parameters measured were higher and have exceeded the maximum permissible limits given by the National Standard of Drinking Water Quality (Nigeria) and World Health Organization (WHO). Index (WQI) analysis carried out for groundwater samples in Antang revealed that most samples exhibited poor water quality as such considered unfit for drinking. some pollutants in groundwater at various sampling points in Antang, was observed a level of these pollutants at varying degrees was found largely due to Since the treatment given to the raw water is disinfection alone, there is tendency of these pollutants to persist in groundwater and its uptake may cause long term problems.