Physicochemical Characteristics of groundwater quality from Yola Area,

ABSTRACT: Some physicochemical parameters related to groundwater quality obtained from Yola Area of Northeastern Nigeria was investigated for the purpose of drinking and irrigation. An attempt was also made to develop linear regression equations to predict the concentration of water quality having significant correlation coefficients with electrical conductivity (EC). The TDS and EC has perfect correlation coefficients whereas Na+ and Cl-, are highly correlated in all the water sources. Furthermore while Ca2+ and HCO3- are highly correlated in both the shallow and deep groundwater they have relatively lower correlation coefficients in the surface water samples. It was equally observed that Mg2+, Ca2+, NO3-, Cl- and Fe are highly correlated with EC in surface water samples. The data also indicated that apart from surface water bodies Ca2+, NO3-, Cl- and HCO3- are poorly related with electrical conductivity at 5 % level of significance. These data has shown that linear regression equations can be applied in predicting groundwater quality in any location @ JASEM Groundwater quality has become an important water resources issue due to rapid increase of population, rapid industrialization, unplanned urbanization and too much use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture (Joarder et al 2008). I