Model Studies of Groundwater Quality and Formation Characteristics in Phreatic Aquifers
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
Public health is an area of great concern due to the pollution level emanating from E. coli, through the transport source in the study area, since health is wealth, it should be thoroughly examined in other to see how the transport disperse to the aquiferous zone. A previous study was carried out on construction materials, abstraction of groundwater, and the way pollution is generated through the application of construction methods, precisely in Rivers State. These were as a result of application of substandard materials in design criteria and construction method. But the area of transport of E. coli was not carried out because it was above the scope of the study. Based on the limited scope, it becomes necessary that further studies should be carried out to cover a large part of the Rivers State environment; by analytically selecting the most affected locations for the study, the most affected areas can be used as a determinant for every part of Rivers state environment.
The serious effect of these pollution transports from E.coli, how it affect human is a serious disaster to human body. In this context, E.coli multiplies within the human digestive tract, producing a potent toxin that damages cells of the intestine lining. These lesions permit blood to rise to the bloody diarrhea, which generally develops within several days, eating contaminated food is one of the characteristic symptoms of infection from these pathogens.
Water pollution is also caused by the presence of undesirable and hazardous materials, beyond certain limits. Based on these unhealthy elements from E. coli, the objective of this research will focus on the following:
- To investigate the transport of coli through homogenous porous aquifers with respect to depth of aquifer and initial concentration.
- To investigate the transport of coli through homogeneous and heterogeneous porous aquifer with respect to depth of aquifer and level of concentration.
- To evaluate the relative importance of E. colitransport, which include their process and occurrence in natural environment
- To determine the coefficient of permeability of selected aquifer in several locations in study of four years (i.e. from 2004-2010) from the well-log history.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
By definition, the word “contaminant” is used to describe a chemical, biological, or radiological substance that produces an adverse effect when present in a certain environment (groundwater in this case). Only a small number of contaminants are truly inert and harmless when present in groundwater. A large variety of solutes can be dangerous to both human and environmental health, but can become less hazardous when undergoing the process of biodegradation.
As mentioned earlier, it is a well-established fact that the hydraulic conductivity and the degradation rate are heterogeneously distributed in space. However, it has not yet been proven if these two variables are either positively or negatively correlated, and whether this correlation has any significant effect on contaminant behaviour. Several applications dealing with spatial variability in aquifers and its effect on contaminants’ fate and transport will be explained further if necessary, (e.g. correlation between the sorption’s distribution coefficient Kd and the hydraulic conductivity (Allen-King et al., 1998; Robin et al., 1991), whereas the connection between the hydraulic conductivity and the degradation rate remains the subject of wide assumption despite some intensive research (Gerba and Bitton, 1984).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Theoretical Background
Theoretical background for 3rd degree polynomial curve fitting
General:
If the above polynomial fits the pair of data (x, y) it means that every pair of data will satisfy the equation (polynomial).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Data Analysis
Polynomial expression were generated from all the results in the study area this is one the expression of polynomial applied for porosity, as shown; other parameters generated its models through this polynomial application as expressed below.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
Investigation into transport of E.coli in phreatic aquifer was carried out in this dissertation, and the findings are presented as follows:
- The presence of E.coli on any aquifer depends on the availability of the nutrient as well as faviourable condition in terms of physiochemical parameter. The microorganism (E.coli) will remain in that formation whereby there will be rapid microbial population, because of the level of nutrient that is deposited in that formation.
- The concentration of E.coli increases with reduction of nutrient, because at the formation the nutrient generated high level of deposition, the microbes definitely remain at that formation and continue to feed at that region, they will definitely decrease the concentration of the nutrients, this will result to the micro organism increasing rapidly in growth rate.
- Population decrease with depth. It is basically depend on the deposition of the formation and the deposition of other influence, either on man-made activities or natural origin. Therefore the low rate of microbial population depends on the geological formation, which determines the deposition of every other influence, but under normal condition, it is the higher the depth the lower the concentration. This study considered this condition also, but emphasized more on the variation of deposition, which definitely influenced the groundwater quality.
Recommendations
The study of E.coli transport in phreatic aquifers on ground water in Rivers state has cause a serious health problem to the people of Rivers state.
This study carried out has generated some better solution through the developed models, from experimental studies carried out to examine how fit it is to the measured result, base on this condition, the following recommendation are made;
The developed model from experimental result should be apply by considering a thorough assessment of the area in other determined the types of concept to be applied in assessment of ground water quality in the study area, through design of bore holes.
Ground water should be thoroughly design considering the condition of E.coli behaviour, as it is considered on the model developed, because of the fundamentals findings applied, which was used to develop these models for thorough ground water abstraction.
The model of porosity influence should be applied in those areas that generate high level of porosity for thorough designed of bore holes in those areas influence by porosity.
There should be seminars or orientations on the risk behind application of substandard method on ground water abstraction.
Bore hole should be designed before construction to avoid abortive wells and economic waste.
There should training for Engineers, Technicians, and Craftsmanship and on the latest model of preventing ground water pollution in construction of bore holes.
Further study
The study of saline intrusion was not considered in this study; therefore, there should be further study on the intrusion of saline on fresh water aquifer, because there are depositions of saline in the study area.
REFERENCES
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- Allen-King, R. M., Halket, R. M., Gaylord, D. R., Robin, M. J. L. (1972) Characterizing the Heterogeneity and Correlation of Perchloroethene Sorption and Hydraulic Conductivity Using a Faeces-Based Approach. Water Resour. Res., 34(3), 385-396, 1998.
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