Critical Assessment of Groundwater Quality around Abandoned Quarry Ponds near Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria

A field study was conducted on the Assessment of Ground Water Quality around Abandoned Quarry
Ponds near Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria and to establish how the Ponds were influenced by past
quarrying activities. Water samples were collected from the four abandoned quarry ponds measured
fifty meters (50 m) (165 ft) deep. In-situ measurements were done with HORIBA U-10 Water Quality
Checker to determine pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, turbidity, conductivity, and salinity.
Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation (r) and test of homogeneity (ANOVA) were used to analyse
data. There was significant variation in concentrations of the physiochemical parameters measured [F
(19.27) > F crit (2.37)] at P< 0.05 and sodium, conductivity, Sulfate and Calcium Carbonate were the most
responsible for the observed inequality. Nitrate correlated positively with turbidity(r=0.942) and sulfate
correlated positively with total dissolved solids (r=0.942) while turbidity correlated positively with total
dissolved solids, (r=0.930) and (r=0.964) at P<0.01. Study findings include increased levels of the
physiochemical parameters in the hand dug wells which are therefore a grave danger to consumers.
The near surface water table and rock over-breaking due to uncontrolled blasting are enhancing pond
water and groundwater interaction, and the resultant groundwater pollution in the study areas.
Therefore, the quarry operators must reclaim the pits before departing or provide for the reclamation.