Hydrogeochemical studies and suitability assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation at Warri and environs., Niger delta basin, Nigeria

The quality of groundwater for irrigation was assessed in Warri and the surrounding area using America Public Health Association standard (APHA) method of analysis. The following results were obtained from different constituents that influence the water quality for irrigation. Electrical Conductivity was found within the range 207–1163, Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP) was found between 1.12 and 218.75, Sodium Percentage (Na%) from 2.56 to 280.00, Permeability Index (PI) was found within 0.00–5.75, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) ranges from 0.02 to 1.31, Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (RSBC) ranges from −0.17 to 0.26, Kelly's Ratio (KR) ranges from 0.02 to 133.33, Total Hardness (TH) ranges from 5.5 to 84. Comparing the above estimated result with the various permissible standard values for irrigation, SSP, Na% and Ec were found to be slightly above the standard values at some locations while all other constituents were found to satisfy the standard value for irrigation. The groundwater facies analysis plotted with Chadha revealed that the water shows little characteristics of Na+ + HCO3- and Na+ + Cl− water types, while for Gibbs plot, it revealed that groundwater chemistry is controlled dominantly by rock weathering processes. [Display omitted] •All parameters satisfy the permissible standard values for irrigation except SSP, MH, Na%, SAR and EC that are slightly high. .•Hydrogeochemical facies plot with Chadha reveals that the water shows little features of Na+ + HCO3- and Na+ + Cl− water types.•Gibbs plot reveals that the groundwater chemical composition is controlled dominantly by rock weathering processes.•The End member diagram infers that the groundwater geochemistry are of two origins. .Origin from weathering of evaporite and silicate dissolution dominates that from carbonate weathering.