IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science (IJAES )

E- ISSN 2489-0081
P- ISSN 2695-1894
VOL. 11 NO. 4 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijaes.vol.11.no4.2025.pg42.51

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Influence of Rice Mill Solid Waste on Groundwater Chemical Composition in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State

Surma, S.K and Gesa, T.R.

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Abstract

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.

keywords:

solid waste, dumpsite, permissible, concentration, parameters.

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