Effects of Gas Flaring On Surface and Ground Water in Irri Town and Environs, Niger-Delta, Nigeria

Surface and ground water samples from gas flared area of Irri town and environs where gas flaring activities take place were analyzed for their heavy metals and trace element constituents and some physical characteristics. The results were evaluated with a view to determine and compare the quality and portability of the water from areas of high gas flaring activities with samples from areas of minimal gas flaring. The range of concentration of heavy metals were lead (0.181 -0.245 mg/l), copper (0.000 to 0.007 mg/l) Zinc (0.001 to 019gm/l), Nickel (0.1-0.13mg/l),iron (0.02 -1.42mg/l) manganese (0.008 -0.032 mg/l) cadmium (0.000). Some of these concentration levels are above World Health Organization (WHO) maximum permissible limits, the general results showed that water in the study area had acceptable quality for household utilization except the ones that contain excess lead and iron which may require treatment.