Comparative assessment of physico-chemical properties of rainwater in ishiagu south-eastern region of ebonyi state, Nigeria

Comparative assessment of rainwater was carried out to investigate the impact of quarrying and mining activities on the physicochemical properties of rainwater in Ishiagu area. To achieve this, six communities were considered based on the busy quarrying activities going in the area. Sampling of the raindrops were properly carried out using plastic funnel of 30cm diameter fitted onto two litre container placed on a woody stool that is five feet above the ground level, sited in an open space away from obstruction. From all indication, the values of the physicochemical parameters analyzed were found mostly below the limits set by both the National (NSDWQ, SON) and International standard (WHO, EPA, USGS) regulatory bodies for drinking and domestic waters. Except in the case of pH concentration, where Amaeze (RWD1) and Okue (RWD6) stations exhibited high pH values of 6.79 and 5.4, respectively, which is within the range of the recommended standard, while the rest of other stations like; Amaonye (RWD2), Amaokwe (RWD3), Ihietutu (RWD4), and Ngwogwo (RWD5), were found to be 4.36, 4.45, 4.70 and 4.36 respectively, which is mainly acidic and below the set standards. In other way round, the water samples in these stations recorded acidic pH value may be experiencing trace of acid rain. However, Amaeze and Okue stations exhibited high level of salinity as the level of electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS) and total hardness (TH) increases. This shows that there is a direct relationship between these parameters in most of the samples result, as the parameters changes with respect to each other. Moreover, the total hardness analysis confirmed the rainwater in all the stations a soft water.