Controlling Factors of Groundwater Chemistry in the Benin Formation of Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater is valuable natural resources for various human activities. Factor Analysis (FA) were applied to the hydrochemical data from the Benin Formation aquifers of Owerri in order to extract the principal factors responsible for the different hydrochemical facies. By using Kaiser Normalization, the principal factors were extracted from the data. The analysis reveals six sources of solutes. The processes responsible for their enrichment includes: Mineral leaching/chemical weathering from the overlying rock, seawater intrusion, agricultural practices, and dissolution of carbonate mineral and industrial effluent. Such processes are dominated by the significant role of anthropogenic interference with the groundwater in the area. The identified factors contributed to the changes in the groundwater chemistry. The effectiveness of this method in characterizing the groundwater chemistry/facies is commendable.