Groundwater and mineral resources of Nigeria

Within the last decade or so, the accelerated growth of Nigeria in the fields of urbanisation, population, business as well as industry has led to some attention in assessment of available water resources in various parts of the country. Many workers (du Preez and Barber, 1965; Jackson, 1978; Faniran and Omorinbola, 1980; Ofodile, 1983; Egboka, 1983; Akujieze, 1984; Ogbukagu, 1984; Uma, 1984) have made significant contributions in this area. Water is important because the attainment of the goals of any society as well as the health and well-being of the population depends on a plentiful and reliable supply of this natural resource. Water forms an indispensable input into economic activities such as commerce, tourism and industry. The results of the various researches have revealed that water resources (surface and groundwater) in many parts of the country, especially the southern part, are more than adequate to meet any demand and only need development. A complete appraisal of available water resources is often best accomplished when aspects of water quality are included. This is because in a planned water supply system, quality constraints and requirements dictate the sources of water allocated to various stages. A public water supply, though contributing greatly to the human health and well-being, can also be a vehicle for spreading disease if not properly handled. In this paper, water quality of selected water resources (surface and groundwater) in some parts of Imo State, Nigeria are reported and suggestions advanced for their healthy untilization.