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By: Yahaya Kudush Kawa, Gibrilla Thullah, Victoria Olufemi Danke Kawa, and Prince T. Mabey
Chemistry Department, Njala University, Njala Campus, Bo, Sierra Leone.
Institute of Environmental Management and Quality Control, Njala University, Njala Campus, Bo, Sierra Leone.
Mathematics Department, Milton Margai Technical University, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Institute of Environmental Management and Quality Control, Njala University, Njala Campus, Bo, Sierra Leone
The study assesses four Wells’ groundwater quality in terms of its suitability for agricultural irrigation and drinking purposes. From January to December 2024, the following physicochemical parameters pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), ammonia, nitrate, fluoride, and chromium were examined. To evaluate each Well’s overall water quality, the water quality index (WQI) was computed. Well two (90.56) and Well three (71.14) WQI values show that the water is good for drinking in relation to their physicochemical analyses. Well one (350.17) and Well four (418.58) WQI values show that the water is unsuitable for drinking. This is primarily due to elevated chromium levels in Well one and Well two which render their water not suitable for drinking purposes. Well three, with the lowest WQI of 71.14 is good for irrigation purposes since the farmers are using these Wells for watering their crops during the dry season. Lower WQI values suggest that the water is of better quality in terms of irrigation purposes, with fewer contaminants and lower levels of salinity or hardness is beneficial for plant growth and the health of the soil. Well two also have a relatively low WQI of 90.56, which makes it another good source for irrigation purposes. Well One and Well Four have much higher WQI values, which might indicate poorer water quality and could be less suitable for irrigation. High WQI values often correlate with higher levels of contaminants which could affect crops and soil over time.
Citation:
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