Abstract
Hydrochemical investigation of 20 water samples collected from hand dug wells, boreholes and streams have been carried out. This was aimed at evaluating major ions and their origin; establish hydrochemical facies and determine their suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. The suitability of the waters for irrigation purposes was evaluated using Wilcox’s diagram, Kelly’s and Magnesium ratios. The source of ion in water was examined and classified using the Gibbs diagram. From the geochemical results, it was found that sodium and chloride are the most predominant ions of the total chemical budget. The hydrochemical characteristics of the water revealed that the cationic concentrations is in the order Ca2+ > Mg2+ > (Na+k) for both wells and surface waters while the anionic concentrations is in the order of HCO–3> > Cl– >S O4-2. The hydrochemical facies are essentially CaHCO3 > Ca(Mg)Cl. Wilcox’s, Kelly’s and magnesium ratios suggested that majority of water samples are good for irrigation. Also, the source of the ions in the waters was examined and classified accordingly as rock weathering dominance. The results therefore show that the water resources are suitable for drinking and irrigation at the time of study.
Key Words: Water quality, Wilcox, Groundwater, Piper diagram, Irrigation
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