ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY AFFECTED BY RICE MILL SOLID WASTE IN TARKA, BENUE STATE

Laboratory and field experiments were carried out during dry season of 2025 to determine the influence of rice mill solid waste on groundwater chemical composition at various locations (Uchi, Wannune and Tarhembe) in Tarka local Government Area of Benue State. Well water samples were collected from fifteen (15) open wells, five (5) from each location during the dry season of 2025 within a distance of 1km from the rice mill solid waste dumpsites and analysed for the following parameters: Temperature (oC), Turbidity(mg/L), pH, EC (ds/m), Alkalinity (mg/L), Hardness (mg/L), Chlorine (mg/L), Fe (mg/L), Acidity (mg/L), DO (mg/L), COD (mg/L), BOD (mg/L), Sulphate (mg/L), Nitrate (mg/L), Phosphate (mg/L) and selected Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn and Mn). The results indicated that the parameters examined in the groundwater samples in all locations showed a decrease in concentration with distances away from the dumpsites, except Fe and Al. Heavy Metal concentration in water at these locations was below permissible safe limits, except in soils of Tarhembe rice mill where Cd (0.06) was slightly above these limits. It was concluded that rice mill solid waste significantly influenced various measurable ground water properties. Continuous monitoring of these quality indices would be required to avoid contamination of the ground water sources within the vicinity of the dumpsites.