Application of Weighted Arithmetic Index Method in Determining The Water Quality Status of Groundwater Samples near Gosa Dumpsite, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria
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Date
2025-08-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
FUOYE Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences
Abstract
Water pollution compromises the safety of drinking water. This study employed the
Weighted Arithmetic Index method to assess the quality of groundwater samples (from
wells) near the Gosa dumpsite in the FCT, Abuja. Water samples were collected from
four different wells near the dumpsite. The physicochemical parameters such as
Electrical conductivity (E.C), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hardness (T.H), pH,
Chlorides (Cl-), Sulphates (SO42-), Nitrates (NO3-), Nitrite (NO2-), Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) among others, were
analysed for the water samples. Values were compared with the World Health
Organization (WHO) permissible limits. Groundwater samples were collected and
analysed using standard procedures. Findings showed that all the water obtained from
the four (4) different wells had Water Quality Index (WQI) values that exceeded 100,
which makes the water unsuitable for consumption. The overall status of the WQI from
the study area is unsuitable for consumption, as indicated by average WQI values higher
than 100 (352.6817). The unsuitable state of the water quality in the area may be due to
dumpsite leachate infiltration into the neighbouring groundwater. Steady consumption
of the unsafe well water close to the dumpsite in Gosa poses a health risk to the
consumers. The study suggests that users in the area should properly treat well water
before consumption, and it also recommends consistent monitoring of groundwater to
ensure that the water is safe and suitable for human use.
Description
In Nigeria and other low-to-medium-income
nations, most wastes generated are disposed
of in dumpsites. Because the land is cheap
and plentiful, landfilling activities become
highly desirable, as revealed by Okonofua et
al. [1] and Nwosu et al. [2]. In the developing
cities of the world, where landfill policies are
not considered, a large proportion of the
generated municipal solid waste (MSW) ends
up in dumpsites, as reported by Awino and
Apitz [3]. When waste is dumped into
dumpsites, it poses a significant impact on
the environment, especially soil and
groundwater.
Keywords
Citation
77. Opasola O.A , E. Otto, J.T. Salami and B.Y. Adiama (2025). Application of Weighted Arithmetic Index Method in Determining The Water Quality Status of Groundwater Samples near Gosa Dumpsite, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. FUOYE Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol 10 (2) 144-163. DOI: 10.55518/fjpas.SCYH6628.