Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbial Parameters in Groundwater Around Solid Waste Dumpsite at Egbelu, Rivers State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study assessed the physicochemical and microbial quality of groundwater around a solid waste dumpsite at Egbelu, Rivers State, Nigeria. Groundwater from twelve boreholes (three per distance) was sampled once at 100 m, 300 m and 500 m from the dumpsite, with boreholes at 800 m as the control. Parameters analysed were pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids , total dissolved solids , turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, total heterotrophic bacteria and total heterotrophic fungi . Data were analysed using analysis of variance , Pearson correlation and principal component analysis . pH (6.35–6.69) remained within WHO and NSDWQ limits. Temperature declined from 29.60 °C at 100 m to 28.20 °C at 800 m, EC from 98.33 μS/cm (100 m) to 70.80 μS/cm (500 m). Nitrate and phosphate peaked near the dumpsite (5.31 and 2.61 mg/L). THB peaked at 706,667 ± 271,538.80 CFU/mL at 100 m, while THF declined from 60,000 ± 43,588.99 CFU/mL at 100 m to 3,333.33 ± 5,773.50 CFU/mL at the control. Distance correlated negatively with temperature (r = −0.999), phosphate (r = −0.992) and THF (r = −0.83). PCA showed that PC1 (49.88% of variance) was driven mainly by nitrate, EC, turbidity, pH, temperature and phosphate, while PC2 (38.84%) separated TSS and TDS, which were unrelated to distance, from temperature and phosphate. The findings suggest a dumpsite influence on groundwater quality, particularly at close range, although overall ANOVA differences across distances were not significant; the trends are therefore indicative and have potential public health implications.
Keywords
Groundwater qualitySolid waste dumpsitePhysicochemical parametersMicrobial contaminationBorehole waterDistance-based variationMultivariate statistical analysisPublic health risk.
References
Abiriga, D., Jenkins, A., Alfsnes, K., Vestgarden, L., & Klempe, H. (2021). Characterisation of the bacterial microbiota of a landfill-contaminated confined aquifer undergoing intrinsic remediation. Science of the Total Environment, 785, Article 147349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147349 Abiye, T., & Raimi, M. O. (2025). Assessing groundwater contamination near dumpsites in Port Harcourt using water quality index : Insights from seasonal and distance-based variations. International Journal of Hydrology, 9(1), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.15406/ijh.2025.09.00401 American Public Health Association. (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (21st ed.). American Public Health Association. Ape, J., Bathula, S., & Samanta, S. (2025). An assessment of the effects of groundwater quality parameters in proximity to the open dump site in the perimeter of PNG University of Technology. Interdisciplinary Journal of Papua New Guinea University of Technology, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.63900/gzsxac45 Cai, S., Zhou, S., Wang, Q., Cheng, J., & Zeng, B. (2024). Assessment of metal pollution and effects of physicochemical factors on soil microbial communities around a landfill. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 271, Article 115968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115968 Chokor, J., & Roberts, M. (2022). Groundwater pollution as a function of distance from dump site in Amassoma, Bayelsa State (a semi-urban environment). Nigerian Journal of Life Sciences, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.52417/njls.v4i2.182 Farzaneh, G., Khorasani, N., Ghodousi, J., & Panahi, M. (2021). Assessment of surface and groundwater resources quality close to municipal solid waste landfill using multiple indicators and multivariate statistical methods. International Journal of Environmental Research, 15(3), 383–394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-020-00307-9 Igboama, W. N., Hammed, O. S., Fatoba, J. O., Aroyehun, M. T., & Ehiabhili, J. C. (2022). Impact of groundwater contamination due to dumpsites using geophysical and physicochemical methods: A review. Applied Water Science, 12(6), Article 130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-022-01653-z Kamble, S., Saxena, P., Kurakalva, R., & Shankar, K. (2020). Evaluation of seasonal and temporal variations of groundwater quality around Jawaharnagar municipal solid waste dumpsite of Hyderabad city, India. SN Applied Sciences, 2, Article 2199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2199-0 Kapelewska, J., Kotowska, U., Karpińska, J., Astel, A., Zieliński, P., Suchta, J., & Algrzym, K. (2019). Water pollution indicators and chemometric expertise for the assessment of the impact of municipal solid waste landfills on groundwater located in their area. Chemical Engineering Journal, 359, 1357–1368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.11.137 Li, D., Zhang, Y., Yu, F., Wang, J., Zhang, X., Feng, L., Lang, T., & Yang, F. (2024). Vadose- zone characteristic pollutants distribution, microbial community structure and functionality changes in response to long-term leachate pollution of an informal landfill site. Science of the Total Environment, 931, Article 174596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174596 Liu, Z., Sha, H., Zhu, P., Zheng, H., Wang, J., He, J., Ma, Y., An, F., Liu, X., & Guo, Z. (2024). Leachate derived humic-like substances drive the variation in microbial communities in landfill-affected groundwater. Journal of Environmental Management, 359, Article 121000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121000 Naeem, M., & Asam, Z. U. Z. (2024). Contaminant transport from solid waste dumps: Implications for environmental degradation with a focus on capital territory regions. Environmental Research, 247, Article 118152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118152 Ndoma, E., Rilwanu, T., Jamilu, D., & Hemba, S. (2025). Characteristics of physicochemical parameters, heavy metals and influence of distance to landfill on possible groundwater contamination in Calabar Municipality. International Journal of Human Research and Social Science Studies, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.55677/ijhrsss/02-2025-vol02i4 Ntongha, O., & Omokaro, O. (2022). Impact of oil field wastewater from Santa Barbara oil rig location on the microbial population of Santa Barbara River in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Acta Scientific Microbiology, 5(7), 48–56. https://doi.org/10.31080/asmi.2022.05.1080 Ntongha, O., & Omokaro, O. (2023). Impact of oilfield wastewaters from Soku Swamp Rig on the population and diversity of microbes in Soku River in Niger Delta. Journal of Advances in Microbiology, 23(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.9734/jamb/2023/v23i2704 Ojo-Awo, N., Agbabiaka, H., & Ilesanmi, A. (2018). Refuse dumpsite and its associated pollutants: Spatial variations of the impact of leachates on groundwater quality. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 29(3), 572–591. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-08-2017-0077 Oladiran, G. F., Raheem, S. B., Okeniyi, A. G., & Busari, A. A. (2023). Effect of solid waste landfill leachates on groundwater quality. Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 14(3), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.30574/gjeta.2023.14.3.0058 Olagbemiro, T. O., Ekweozor, I. K. E., Ugbomeh, A. P., Ogbonna, D. N., Bob-Manuel, K. N. O., Green, F. A., & Nwibani, B. H. (2025). Assessment of physicochemical, heavy metals and microbial parameters in leachate and groundwater around solid waste dumpsites at Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 29(3), 857–866. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v29i3.22 Omofunmi, O., Satimehin, A., Olasunkanmi, B., Akinsorotan, A., Oloye, O., Umego, M., & Ogunleye, K. (2019). Evaluation of ground and surface waters around dumpsites in Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria. FUOYE Journal of Agriculture and Human Ecology, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.62923/fuojahe.v1i3.69 Omofunmi, O., Satimehin, A., Oloye, A., & Umego, O. (2020). Effect of landfill leachates on some water quality indicators of selected surface water and groundwater at Ilokun, Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria. Makara Journal of Technology, 24(2), 72–78. https://doi.org/10.7454/mst.v24i2.3881 Onwualu-John, J., & Uzoegbu, M. (2022). Physicochemical characteristics and heavy metals level in groundwater and leachate around solid waste dumpsite at Mbodo, Rivers State Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 26(12), 2089–2096. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v26i12.27 Owhonka, A., & Obire, O. (2019). Response of soil microorganisms to oilfield wastewater. Journal of Advances in Microbiology, 15(4), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.9734/jamb/2019/v15i430107 Owhonka, A., & Omokaro, O. (2022). Evaluation of the microbial population of soil around oilfield wastewater pond. South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology, 12(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.9734/sajrm/2022/v12i130261 Qi, Y., Qiu, J., Tao, J., Zeng, J., Liu, R., Liu, H., Chen, M., Liu, N., & Zeng, J. (2023). Temporal evolution of biogeochemical parameters and microbial communities in a landfill leachate pollution plume. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 234, Article 642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06747-1 Saleh, H. N., Valipoor, S., Zarei, A., Yousefi, M., Asghari, F., Mohammadi, A., Amiri, F., Ghalehaskar, S., & Khaneghah, A. M. (2020). Assessment of groundwater quality around municipal solid waste landfill by using Water Quality Index for groundwater resources and multivariate statistical technique: A case study of the landfill site, Qaem Shahr City, Iran. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 42(5), 1305–1319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00417-0 Sha, H., Liu, Z., Sun, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Zheng, J., & He, X. (2023). Leachate leakage enhances microbial diversity and richness but decreases Proteobacteria and weakens stable microbial ecosystem in landfill groundwater. Water Research, 243, Article 120321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120321 Simon-Oke, I., Oladele, O., & Dada, O. (2023). Microorganisms in soil and groundwater of Epe and Laje solid waste dumpsites in Ondo Town, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 27(2), 217–322. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v27i2.19 Ugbebor, J., & Ntesat, B. (2019). Investigation of borehole water contaminant profile at Igwuruta solid waste dumpsite, Rivers State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 38(2), 507– 514. https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.v38i2.33 Williams, J., & Hakam, K. (2016). Microorganisms associated with dump sites in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment, 8(2), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.5897/jene2015.0522 Yahaya, T., Chidi, O., Abdulrahman, S., Oladele, E., Abdulrahim, A., Abdulganiyu, Y., & Izuafa, A. (2024). Health risk assessment of heavy metals, physicochemical properties and microbes in groundwater near Igando dumpsite in Lagos, Nigeria. Industrial and Domestic Waste Management, 4(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v4i1.375
More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND EARTH SCIENCE
Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soils Across Four Local Government Areas of Southern Kebbi State, Nigeria: A Spatial Variability Study
Author: A. Hussaini1, M. A. Augie1, and Musa Audu, M. Ibrahim1. A.Y Manga1.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations and Textural Properties of Soils in The Southern Part of Kebbi State, Nigeria
Author: A. Hussaini1, M. A. Augie1, and Musa Audu
Temporal Turnover Outweighs Spatial Differences in The Fish Assemblage of a Peri-Urban Tidal River During the Early Rainy Season: The Egbelu Reach of The New Calabar River, Niger Delta, Nigeria
Author: Wala Chimela, Onisowurun Tom Lazarus, and Eke-John Honour Chibueze
Nutritional Health Hazards and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Selected Food Crops in Communities Surrounding Oil Well Heads in Olomoro, Delta State
Author: Onyukwu, I., Dollah, O. C and, Gobo, A. E
Determinants Factors Predisposing Crop Farmers to Farm Thefts in Imo State, Nigeria
Author: Egwuonwu Helen Adeola