Groundwater is a vital source of drinking water and for recreational facilities in most areas, but its chemical stability is often ignored, which is the cause of the mass destruction of infrastructure and endangered health of the population. This paper analyses the corrosiveness and stability of calcium carbonate in groundwater taken at five strategic boreholes (BH 1 – BH 5) by using the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI). Analyses on physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, calcium hardness, alkalinity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) were conducted to establish the thermodynamic inclination of the water towards either scale development or corrosion. The findings demonstrate that all the sampling sites are highly chemically aggressive, and the LSIs are between -2.04 and -3.06. These high negative values show a steady under saturation condition with respect to calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which precludes the development of protective mineral scales in the distribution networks. This leads to internal corrosion and tuberculation in metallic pipes that not only diminishes hydraulic efficiency and life of infrastructure but also adds to the chances of heavy metal leaching into the supply. To reduce such risks, the research suggests a series of stabilization measures such as aeration of CO2 stripping, lime Ca(OH)2 dosing and decentralized systems, which will be provided with active calcite contactors. The results underscore the importance of applying chemical stabilization in groundwater management guidelines to guarantee the stability and security of water distribution systems in the long run.
Uduak Joseph Ekanem (2026) studied this question.