Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike


INVESTIGATION OF COASTAL GROUNDWATER QUALITY USING WEIGHTED ARITHMETIC WATER QUALITY INDEX AND ENTROPY WEIGHTED WATER QUALITY INDEX METHODS

Ukoha-Onuoha, E.
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oruworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Anucha, C.
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oruworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Oji, P.
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oruworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria



ABSTRACT

This study examined the quality of coastal groundwater in Borokiri, Port Harcourt, using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WA-WQI) and the Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWWQI). Raw and treated water samples were analyzed for physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters, including pH, turbidity, colour, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), total hardness, and chloride (), sulphate (), Iron , Manganese , Nitrate ), fecal coliform, and E.coli. Results showed that only 38% of the raw water parameters conformed to the Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) guidelines. Treatment resulted in improved water quality, increasing the number of parameters that conformed to the NSDWQ guidelines by 24%. Microbial parameters, including E. coli and fecal coliforms, also conformed to NSDWQ guidelines, as they were not detectable. The raw and treated water received good (39.87) and excellent (14.45) ratings from WA-WQI while EWWQI categorized them as very poor (332.40) and medium (135.26), indicating a difference in methods. Analysis of dominant pollutants for both indices highlighted turbidity, colour, and Mn for WA-WQI and colour, turbidity, EC, TDS, and chloride for EWWQI. The findings show that EWWQI provides a more comprehensive assessment for coastal aquifers with multiple exceedances of acceptable limits.


Keywords: Dominant Pollutants, Water Quality Indices, Coastal Aquifers, Salt Water Intrusion, Acceptable limits


https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v11i2_12
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Published
Monday, July 14, 2025

Issue
Vol. 11 No. 2, December 2025

Article Section
GENERAL

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