Effects of Gas Flaring on the Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Water Sources in Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria

Article Preview

Abstract:

This study evaluates the effects of gas flaring on the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of water sources at Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria. Surface and ground water samples from the area were compared with samples from Ihiagwa Autonomous Community in Owerri West, a non-gas flared community. Both water sources were then compared with WHO standards for drinking water. The results revealed that water sources from the gas flared area have high levels of temperature, total chlorine, nitrate, nitrites, sulphates, calcium, and zinc, chromium with a very acidic pH when compared with water from non-gas flared sources. Also, microbial load increased the farther the distance from the flare site. The human health imparts of the presence of heavy metals and microorganisms in drinking water had been reported. In conclusion, gas flaring can pollute water sources within oil and gas facilities, thereby making them unsuitable for human consumption. Oil and gas industries should therefore treat water within their areas of operations before discharged into water bodies in addition to other remediation measures as part of their social responsibility.

Info:

* - Corresponding Author

[1] Efe, S.I. Quality of rainwater harvesting for communities of Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of the Environment, 26(2006): 175 -181.

DOI: 10.1007/s10669-006-7829-6

Google Scholar

[2] Adebola, K. D. Groundwater Quality in Ilorin Township: An Environmental Review African Journal of Environmental Studies. 2(2) (2001): 4-6.

Google Scholar

[3] Nnimmo, B. (2008) Gas Flaring: Assaulting Communities, Jeopardizing the World. A paper Presented at the National Environmental Consultation, Environmental Rights Action in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Environment at Reiz Hotel, Abuja 10-11 December 2008.

Google Scholar

[4] Ubani E.C. and I.M. Onyejekwe (2013). Environmental impact analyses of gas flaring in the Niger delta region of Nigeria Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2013, 4(2): 246-252

DOI: 10.5251/ajsir.2013.4.2.246.252

Google Scholar

[5] Anslem O. A. Negative Effects of Gas Flaring: The Nigerian Experience. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health, 1(1) (2013): 6-8

Google Scholar

[6] JINN, Gas Flaring in Nigeria: an Overview, Justice in Nigeria Now. April 2010. Available at www.justiceinnigerianow.org.

Google Scholar

[7] McEwen, J.D. N. and Johnson, M. R. Black carbon particulate matter emission factors for buoyancy driven associated gas flares. J.Air. Waste Manage. Assoc., 62(3) (2010): 307-321.

DOI: 10.1080/10473289.2011.650040

Google Scholar

[8] Efe, S. I. An Appraisal of the Quality of Rain and Groundwater in Nigerian City.A Case Study of Warri Metropolis. A Ph.D Seminar Paper Presented to the Department of Geography and Regional Planning,Delta State University, Abraka, (2000), 1- 19.

Google Scholar

[9] Walk, M.F., and Godfrey, P. J. Effects of Acid Deposition on Surface Water, Journal Of New England Water Works Association, 104 (4) (1990):248 – 251.

Google Scholar

[10] Buchannan RE, Gibbon NE.. Bergy's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Williams and wilkins Co.: Baltimore, U.S.A. 1974.

Google Scholar

[11] Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum industry in Nigeria, EGASPIN. Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum industry in Nigeria. Department of Petroleum Resources, Lagos. (2002)

DOI: 10.2118/86640-ms

Google Scholar

[12] Amadi, A.N., Olashjnde, P.I., Yisa, J., Okosun, E.A., Nwankwoala, H.O and Alkali, Y.B.. Geostatistical Assessment of Groundwater Quality from coastal aquifers of Eastern Niger Delta. Nigeria. J. Geo., 2(3) (2012):51- 59.

DOI: 10.5923/j.geo.20120203.03

Google Scholar

[13] World Health Organization, WHO. pH in Drinking Water. Published in Guidelines for Drinking water quality 2nd edition, vol. 2. WHOGeneva. (2003)

Google Scholar

[14] Federal Ministry of Environment National Guidelines and Standards for water Quality in Nigeria, FMENG&S (1991). Federal Ministry of Environment National Guidelines and Standards for water Quality in Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Lagos.

DOI: 10.6028/nbs.fips.42-1

Google Scholar

[15] Nwankwoala, H.O. Hydrochemical and Suitability Evaluation of Groundwater in Bonny Island, Eastern Niger Delta. African J. Basic and Appl. Sci., 3(6) (2011): 271 –277.

Google Scholar

[16] Chikere BO and Okpokwasili GC, seasonal dynamics of the pollution in a niger delta river receiving pharmaceutical effluents. Trop. Freshw. Bio. 11(2002):11-22

DOI: 10.4314/tfb.v11i1.20865

Google Scholar

[17] Hageskal, G.; Lima, N.; Skaar, I. The study of fungi in drinking water. Mycol. Res. (2009), 113, 165–172.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mycres.2008.10.002

Google Scholar

[18] Douterelo, I.; Boxall, J.B.; Deines, P.; Sekar, R.; Fish, K.E.; Biggs, C.A. Methodological approaches for studying the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems. Water Res., 65 (2014): 134–156.

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.07.008

Google Scholar

[19] Besner, M.-C.; Prévost, M. and Regli, S. Assessing the public health risk of microbial intrusion events in distribution systems: Conceptual model, available data, and challenges. Water Res. 45 (2011): 961–979.

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.10.035

Google Scholar

[20] Anaissie, E.J.; Kuchar, R.T.; Rex, J.H.; Francesconi, A.; Kasai, M.; Muller, F.M.; Walsh, T.J. Fusariosis associated with pathogenic Fusarium species colonization of a hospital water system: A new paradigm for the epidemiology of opportunistic mold infections. Clin. Infect. Dis., 33 (2001): 1871–1878.

DOI: 10.1086/324501

Google Scholar