Characterization by factor analysis of the chemical facies of groundwater in the deltaic plain sands aquifer of Warri, western Niger delta, Nigeria
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Date
2006
Authors
Olobaniyi, S.B
Owoyemi, F.B
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Science and Technology
Abstract
This paper examines the hydrochemical facies of groundwater present in the Deltaic
Plain Sands aquifer of Warri and its immediate environs, maps their areal distribution and attempts
to explain the controlling processes responsible for the various facies. 60 water samples were
collected from wells tapping the Deltaic Plain Sands aquifer of Warri and environs and analyzed for
various parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3 and SO4
after standard procedures. The data obtained were subjected to R-mode factor analysis. Three
factors were extracted. Factor 1 includes K, Na, Cl, and EC and reflects the signature of saline
water incursion resulting from seepages into the aquifer of water from the tide-influenced River
Warri. Factor 2 has high loading values of Mg, Ca, HCO3
and pH and represents the processes of
natural rainwater recharge and water-soil/rock interaction. Factor 3 includes SO4
and can be
related to the dissolution of sulphides from interstratified peat within the geological formation,
heavy vehicular activity and the petroleum refining process in the town. The areal distributions of
the various factor scores indicate that factors 1 and 2 are enhanced close to the banks of River
Warri and decreases away from them. A broad zone of groundwater interaction (mixing) between
water species represented by factors 1 and 2 is thus created towards the riverbanks. The implication
of this is that ionic concentration in the water decreases away from the banks of the river an
indication that the quality of groundwater improves away from the river. Factor 3 is enhanced in
the southeastern portion of the town where it is deemed to be caused by the dissolution by
groundwater of sulphur bearing minerals within the geological formaton, and also in the central
and northwestern portions of the town were it could be related to the rain-dissolution of sulphur
bearing compounds from gaseous emanations arising from vehicles and the petroleum refining
process respectively, which eventually as acid-rain recharges aquifers in the vicinity. This paper
demonstrates the effectiveness of factor analysis in evaluating hydrochemical processes in coastal
and industrial areas
Description
Keywords
factor analysis , hydrochemical process , facies , total dissolve solid , PH , aquifer
Citation
Olobaniyi, S. B., & Owoyemi, F. B. (2006). Characterization by factor analysis of the chemical facies of groundwater in the deltaic plain sands aquifer of Warri, western Niger delta, Nigeria. African Journal of Science and Technology, 7(1).