SUITABILITY OF GROUNDWATER FOR IRRIGATION USE IN NAFADA, NAFADA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, GOMBE STATE

Quality of water is a pre-requisite for the success of an irrigation project. With this view, an effort was made to assess the groundwater quality of a hydrological basin in Nafada. Common problems for poor quality parameter indices determined were precisely evaluated and interpreted. Water sample were collected randomly from eighteen tube wells in the peak dry season (January to April 2011). The analysis reveals that the compositions of the groundwater samples were within the permissible range of irrigation use. Standard water quality parameters in dices like pH (6.8-8.5) showed slightly acidic to alkaline; the TDS was rated as ‘fresh water’. ECw and SAR were ‘low’ and ‘medium salinity’ (C1 and C2) classes and ‘low alkali hazard’ (S1) class, combinedly expressed as C1S1 and C2S1. SSP was of ‘Good’ and ‘permissible’ categories. However, samples are free from RSC and belonged to suitable category for irrigation. Moreover, except minor discrepancies the groundwater of the study area was categorized as excellent to Good quality and seemed to be suitable for crop production.