Evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of groundwater from shallow wells in Enugu town, Nigeria

Nineteen shallow groundwater samples from Enugu town Southeastern, Nigeria were assessed for groundwater quality. The analytical result showed that Cl⁻ correlated positively with EC and TDS, while NO₃ ⁻ also displayed strong correlation with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The trend of the cation and anion abundance from the analysis was K⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ > Cl⁻ > NO₃ ⁻ > HCO₃ ⁻, respectively. The dominant hydrochemical facies consisting 68 % of the water samples fall under the Na⁺–K⁺–Cl⁻–SO₄ ²⁻ type based on the Piper diagram. Few samples fall under Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–Cl⁻–SO₄ ²⁻ water type. The Wilcox diagram indicates that the water of the area under study can be classified as excellent to good, with one under doubtful to unsuitable category. Based on the US salinity plot, the shallow groundwater samples can be classified as good with all the samples falling in the C1S1 field. The analytical plot on the US salinity diagram and the Wilcox diagram reveals that the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation except for sample SWG-2.