Application of Legrand pollution correlation in the evaluation of contaminants migration within the groundwater of Ebhoakhuala in Ekpoma and Agbede, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The increase in population has led to indiscriminate disposal and mismanagement of waste in the society, resulting to waterborne diseases. As a result, this study was done to determine the efficacy and the efficiency of LeGrand correlation chart in the evaluation of the potential of groundwater of an area to pollution. Ebohkhuala and Agbede were used as a case study. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and hydrogeochemical analysis of groundwater in the two areas were used to validate the result of the correlation chart. The LeGrand correlation chart for Ebohkhuala and Agbede total point value for pollution evaluation were 32.5 and 7, respectively. These values showed that Ebohkhuala’s groundwater cannot be contaminated by nearby dump site owing to the result of the correlation which fell within the limits of impossibility, while that of Agbede fell in high possibility. The result of Ebohkhuala’s ERT resistivity signature depicts plume, ranged from 35 to 89 Ωm. The low values indicated migration of pollution without infiltrating the groundwater. However, that of Agbede ranged from 1.8 to 56 Ωm, which suggested high plume saturation. Similarly, the result of hydrogeochemical test of the ground water showed that Ebohkhuala did not have bacteria while Agbede has high concentration. The study has shown that LeGrand correlation is very efficient and efficacious in pollution prediction.