SPATIAL EVALUATION OF WATER QUALITY OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER AROUND ARTISANAL REFINING POLLUTED AREA IN EMOHUA LGA, RIVERS STATE

This study evaluated the spatial distribution of water quality for surface and groundwater sampledaround sites of artisanal refining activities in Emohua local government area in Rivers State. Ten ground and tensurface water samples were collected around artisanal refining operation sites within the distances of 0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m Two control sampleswere obtained at distances of over 10km from the refining sites for both the surface and groundwater samples. The water samples were analyzed for some physicochemical parameters. Water quality index were calculated at difference distances based on measured physicochemical and WHO standards using weighted arithmetic mean technique. The results revealed that the WQI for surface water samples and the control sample were 3.719, 3.700, 2.832, 2.775. 0.098 and 0.115 while that of ground water sample and the control were 1.780, 1.410, 1.778, 0.0518. 0.038 and 0.113 for distance ranges of 0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m and control sample respectively. These results showed that surface water sources were more polluted than the ground water sources at all the sampled distance range. The results also showed that there was decrease in the WQI with increase in distance away from the artisanal refining site which showed that the water quality improve with increase in distance away of the artisanal refining sites but the surface and ground water samples were mostly unfit for drinking except at distances beyond 400 and 300 respectively as well as the control samples. It was therefore concluded that, based on results of water quality index, that both ground and surface water sources within distances of less than 400 and 300 meter respectively away from the artisanal refining operation are not fit for drinking and must be properly and intentionally treated before drinking.