Innocent Ezeugwu, PhD, is a hydro/environmental geologist. His agency, Geo-Inn Services, has been carrying out campaigns for safe underground water sources for human consumption in the face of increasing health challenges linked to water contamination. Ezeugwu, in this interview with THE WHISTLER, calls for the engagement of experts in borehole construction to ensure quality water as well as eliminate the rate of borehole collapses in the country. He also spoke on the attendant water contamination as a result of faulty boreholes. The excerpts.
To a layman, who is a hydrogeologist?
Simply put, a hydrogeologist is a specialist in the occurrence, movement, exploration, development, management, and quality of groundwater and aquifer systems, or someone who is an expert in groundwater. Hydrogeology means groundwater science.
Your agency is championing quality borehole services, especially in Enugu North Zone of Enugu State. Tell us the success story or otherwise of your campaign.
We are worried about the attendant health challenges linked to drinking unsafe water. It is part of our community social responsibility. Apart from advocacy, we are into borehole drilling, groundwater exploration, borehole rehabilitation, borehole pumping tests, geological mapping, water treatment, well logging, environmental impact assessment (EIA), water management, solid minerals exploration and exploitation, as well as general geoscience consultancy. Water borehole collapses are increasing on a daily basis, and they occur in many forms. Many boreholes will function for some time and then suddenly pack up. It is disturbing to experts, and it is also disturbing to owners who had anticipated potable water when embarking on borehole drilling. The issue of the money involved and other resources is also there. Some boreholes established by the government are not left out. The scourge has to do with professionalism. There is a difference between water drillers and geoscientists, more especially hydrogeologists. We advise people to engage professionals any time they want to carry out groundwater exploration and exploitation. In fact, geologists have a major role to play. I am not just a geologist, but a consultant in the water industry. We have different fields in geology: there are petroleum geologists, geophysicists, environmental geologists, and so on. It is a vast field, and no one should assume the position of a hydrogeologist without the qualifications. But people tend to assume that geology is all about crude oil and rocks. We have been engaging key stakeholders to ensure that the masses have access to unhindered safe water.
What causes contamination of water sourced from boreholes?
Since groundwater flows through pores, fractures and cracks in the rock formations, it should always be vulnerable to contamination—both from pollutants coming from the surface and from substances that occur naturally underground. This is particularly important where contaminants from the shallow groundwater zone migrate downward into the aquifer below. Shallow wells easily get contaminated because they are closer to the surface, so they are more exposed to human activities and near-surface sources of contamination. There is a publication, Nitrogen Speciation in Regolith Aquifers at Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria, that looked specifically at nitrate pollution, shallow groundwater, and how human activities affect groundwater quality in our regolith aquifers here in Enugu.
Contamination can also happen naturally, when certain elements are released or mobilised from the aquifer materials themselves. For instance, our research entitled “Microbial Influence on Redox Geochemistry in Enugu Shale Aquifer: Implications for Iron, Manganese, and Arsenic Dynamics”, found elevated levels of iron, manganese and arsenic in groundwater from several locations in Enugu; some even above WHO guideline values. That study linked it to redox processes underground, microbial activity, and the reductive dissolution of metal-bearing minerals.
In the same way, a study on “Thermodynamic and Microbial Constraints on Redox-Induced Mobilisation of Redox-Sensitive Metal(loid)s in Shallow Aquifers of Enugu” shows how changes in redox conditions underground can cause elements like iron, manganese and arsenic to be released into the groundwater.
Why do we have more cases of borehole collapse nowadays compared to boreholes constructed by the colonial administration?
It is simply because of the way people handle borehole construction today. We advise people to engage experts. In fact, using a geologist for exploration is the first step. Even when people do not use geologists for the actual drilling, we advise them to engage geologists for feasibility studies and supervision. It helps a great deal. Engaging experts to supervise the process removes waste and eliminates the “had-I-known” regrets in the long run. First, geologists recommend the depth to drill in order to tap the aquifer. If the water table is not properly ascertained by experts, the likelihood of a failed borehole is high. Drillers are not geologists. In fact, some geologists are still not registered members of the Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), the regulatory body recognised by the federal government. By regulation, a digital seal should accompany every groundwater exploration report issued to clients who go through the established processes. The digital seal is what distinguishes a hydrogeologist from a mere driller or quack.
Are there possible cases of fabrication of the digital seals?
No, nowadays, some people fabricate our reports and use them for their own purposes. These are mainly civil engineers and drillers. But we have moved to put a stop to it.
Your agency is campaigning for quality water in Enugu State, and indeed in Enugu North Senatorial District in particular. What informed your decision?
We established our agency in Enugu North zone specifically because our people have suffered greatly in their efforts to access good water through boreholes. Many are frustrated by the outcome of their investment in water. Some drillers collect their clients’ money and tell the owners that the water level will normalise with time. Experts know exactly what they are looking for when they commence exploration. They deploy digital exploration equipment to check the depth of the water, if any exists, and recommend depths during the exploration process. There is no reason a change should occur midway through exploitation. Some clients pay for 500 metres, and instead of drilling the exact metres, the drillers stop short. If sufficient water is found before the 500 metres is reached, the rule of engagement is to inform the client so that, should something occur later, it happens by mutual understanding—not because the driller wants to withhold part of the money. This is where a hydrogeologist comes in.
Do you think the sector is well regulated, considering the number of failed boreholes?
In no distant time, regulation will be robust. There are already many geoscientists and hydrogeologists, and I believe more are still coming up. Before now, not much was known about geologists and groundwater exploration; geologists were more commonly associated with the oil sector. To be a qualified geoscientist, a COMEG seal is necessary. It is digital, and it is the only way to distinguish the genuine practitioners from the quacks.
At times we see oil stains in some water sourced from boreholes. What causes that?
The oily substance you’re referring to could indicate the presence of certain mineral resources, which only a geoscientist can determine. Some people assume it is coal deposits, but this can only be confirmed through proper testing, not assumptions. It could be a natural resource worth exploring — it is wrong to simply assume. Hydrogeologists are also involved in water treatment, and such cases may require treatment. It is only through proper testing that we can determine the right remedy. Even water that appears very dirty can often be cleaned and made safe for human consumption.
Tell us more about borehole rehabilitation.
It is the process of reviving failed or moribund boreholes or water sources to make them functional and safe for human consumption, as the case may be. Many boreholes suddenly develop faults after serving people for months or years, and many owners simply abandon them. Such boreholes can often be rehabilitated and restored to proper function.
How safe is stream water?
Naturally, some stream water is contaminated, and some is not. Within the Anambra basin, the water we drink is rich in iron. And ferric iron is harmful to the body. This is where geo-microorganisms like Shewanella and Geobacter play a major role in iron reduction within our regolith aquifers. The only water free from iron is rainwater, provided it hasn’t picked up dust. Stream water contains iron, but it is recommended that samples be taken to laboratories for analysis. Some iron content is, however, beneficial to the body. Some stream water may also be contaminated by hydrogen sulphide.
What role is your agency playing in ensuring the safety of water for human consumption?
We are available to assist individuals and the public, including governments. We have the technical know-how and are ready for partnership. Governments already have water resources, water boards, and geologists of their own. Our sensitisation efforts are aimed at reducing water-related problems. People deserve quality water to maintain healthy living. The rate of borehole abandonment and collapse is what informs our current advocacy.
What is the contamination rate of water in Enugu North zone, where you are currently based?
It is hard to find water within this zone that is highly contaminated. This zone is dominated by Ajali sand formations. However, we do not rule out isolated cases. When we encounter one, we know how to address it, though such cases are very rare. This zone is known for high yields when it comes to boreholes, but iron is present everywhere, at times visible at the bottom of water gallons, which is not healthy.
How does this affect human health?
Excess iron can cause a number of health problems, but that discussion should be left to medical professionals. They are the ones to explain whether it affects specific organs. I can’t discuss the health implications of that, as it is not my field.
