Evaluation of Water Quality Parameters at Maiganga Coal Mining Area

Mining activities influenced water quality based on its physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, redox potential, turbidity, color, and oxygen saturation, presence of anions and cations among others. The aim of this study is to determine the water quality in relation to coal mining activities in two ponds at Maiganga coal mining area. Physical parameters were measured In situ using multi-dimensional instrument which includes pH, temperature, Electric conductivity, Dissolved oxygen, Transparency, Total dissolve solid (TDS), while chemical parameters were measured in the laboratory using laboratory standards manual which includes phosphate, Nitrate, calcium, magnesium. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the heavy metals concentration. Water quality parameters i.e. temperature ranges between 26 oC to 29 oC, Alkalinity 28.09 to 39.98mg/l, pH 6.53 to 7.80, Clarity 10.50 cm to 13.75 cm, DO 2.18 mg/L to 3.50 mg/L, BOD 13.15 to 4.53 mg/L, calcium 18.30 to 23.23 mg/L, magnesium 17.30 to 36.80 mg/L, Nitrate 15.35 to 18.45 mg/L, Phosphate 10.50 to 12.03mg/L. Heavy metals i.e. Cadmium 0.01 mg/L to 0.70 mg/L and Chromium 0.03 mg/L to 0.51 mg/L, Arsenic 0.04 to 0.80 mg/L, Iron 0.02 to1.61 mg/L, Lead 0.00 to 0.03 mg/L, Copper 0.00 to 0.03 mg/L, Zinc 0.01 to 0.28 mg/L, Nikel 0.01 to 0.51 mg/L. while for Gwari pond water parameters i.e Temperature range between 22.98oC to 33.85 0C, Alkalinity 30.15 to 46.20, pH 7.23 to 7.85, clarity 6.75 to 11.38 cm, EC 54.05 to 307.00, TDS 65.00 to 88.50 mg/L, BOD 3.35 to 5.33 mg/L, DO 2.03 to 3.30 mg/L, Calcium 14.28 to 19.10 mg/L, Magnesium 26.15 to 37.30 mg/L, Nitrate 30.22 to 32.33 mg/L, Phosphate 20.33 to 21.93 mg/L, Heavy metal I.e Cadmiun 0.00 to 1.61 mg/L Chromium 0.02 to 1.61mg/L, Arsenic 0.01 to 0.51 mg/L, Iron 0.02 to 0.45 mg/L, Lead 0.02 to 0.23 mg/L, Copper 0.01 to 1.61 mg/L, Zinc 0.00 to 0.90 mg/L, Nickel 0.01 to 3.65 mg/L. It also indicates that there is both positive and negative correlation between physiochemical Parameter and heavy metals, pH has positive correlation with Copper, Zinc has positive correlation with Cadmium, Temperature has negative correlation with Total Dissolved Solid. Arsenic has negative correlation with Iron. Coal mining activities might have affected the water quality in Tudun Kuka and Gwari ponds. There is need for further investigation into the status of the water bodies to further ascertain their use as source of drinking, animal watering and irrigation purpose in the area.