Vol. 119 No. 1 (2025)
Research Papers

Hydro-geochemical Characterization and Groundwater Quality Assessment of Mariri Aquifer, Kano, Nigeria

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  • Christian Chinweuba Onoyima,
  • Clifford Baba Okpanachi,
  • Jibrin Noah Akoji
Christian Chinweuba Onoyima
Department of Chemistry, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Nigeria
Clifford Baba Okpanachi
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Nigeria
Jibrin Noah Akoji
Department of Chemistry, Base University, Abuja, Nigeria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-17814

Published 2025-07-08

Keywords

  • Irrigation water quality,
  • groundwater,
  • hydrochemistry,
  • WQI,
  • Parameters,
  • Piper
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Onoyima, C. C., Okpanachi, C. B., & Akoji, J. N. (2025). Hydro-geochemical Characterization and Groundwater Quality Assessment of Mariri Aquifer, Kano, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID), 119(1), 469–486. https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-17814

Copyright (c) 2025 Christian Chinweuba Onoyima, Clifford Baba Okpanachi, Jibrin Noah Akoji

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

The chemical composition of groundwater, which reflects its quality, is a product of natural and anthropogenic factors that affect its use for different purposes. This study characterizes the groundwater chemistry of the Mariri aquifer using the Piper Diagram, Chadha Diagram, and Gibbs Plot. The suitability of the groundwater for irrigation was assessed using some irrigation quality parameters such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP or %Na), Permeability Index (PI), Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (RSBC), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR), Wilcox Diagram, and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI). In contrast, a weighted arithmetic water quality index was used to evaluate its suitability for drinking. The results show that the groundwater is hard freshwater of Ca-Mg-HCO3. The major process governing groundwater chemistry is the dissolution of carbonate rock. The Irrigation water quality parameters also indicate that the groundwater has excellent permeability with low to medium salinity, which, as shown by the IWQI, can be used for irrigation with moderate restrictions. The drinking water quality index also indicated “good” to “poor” water quality. The composition of the groundwater shows that it can be used for irrigation and drinking, but with some measure of restraint. The results of the study will benefit water resource managers and policymakers.

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