Criteria for Oil Spill Recovery: A Case Study of the Intertidal Community of Prince William Sound, Alaska, Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Marine intertidal organisms in Prince William Sound were exposed to crude oil following the T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The intertidal communities were also subjected to mechanical disturbance during invasive oil spill remediation and cleanup efforts. Using monitoring data collected from 1989 to 1997, impacts and eventual recovery were assessed at oiled but uncleaned sites and oiled and cleaned study areas. A statistical model where recovery was defined as parallelism between the time profiles at control and oiled sites was evaluated. Statistical analysis and graphical presentations of the data suggest intertidal epibiota communities recovered from the oil spill by 1992 at the oiled sites and by 1994 at the oiled and remediated sites. Empirical data from the intertidal monitoring program supports the use of tests of parallelism in evaluating recovery and the need to avoid simply the comparison of sample means from control and oiled sites.     

Index of Alien Impact: A Method for Evaluating Potential Ecological Impact of Alien Plant Species

Alien plant species are stressors to ecosystems and indicators of reduced ecosystem integrity. The magnitude of the stress reflects not only the quantity of aliens present, but also the quality of their interactions with native ecosystems. We develop an Index of Alien Impact (IAI) to estimate the collective ecological impact of in situ alien species. IAI summarizes the frequency of occurrence and potential ecological impact (Invasiveness-Impact Score (I _i )) of individual alien species for all aliens present in a particular location or community type. A component metric, I _i , is based on ecological species traits (life history, ecological amplitude, and ability to alter ecosystem processes) that reflect mechanisms, which can increase impact to ecosystem structure and function. While I _i is less complex than some other multi-metric rankings of alien impact, it compares well to these metrics and to qualitative judgments. IAI can be adapted for different ecological settings by modifying the set of species traits incorporated in I _i to reflect properties likely to breach biotic and abiotic barriers or alter ecosystem function in a particular region or community type of interest. To demonstrate our approach, we created versions of IAI and I _i , applicable to the diverse streamside vegetation of a river basin (19,631 km²) spanning low-elevation arid to mesic montane habitats in eastern Oregon, USA. In this demonstration effort, we (1) evaluate relationships of IAI to metrics describing invasion level, and (2) illustrate the potential utility of IAI for prioritizing alien species management activities and informing restoration goals.     

Assessment of the degree of rancidity on reused oils in university cafeterias,and public awareness

In this study, reused sunflower cooking oil was investigated for rancidity. Three student cafeterias at the University of Dodoma (UDOM) were used for this particular study. Oil samples were analyzed at the University of Dodoma laboratories. Results showed that all parameters were beyond permissible limits by WHO/FAO standards. Acid values ranged between 0.841 and 4.319 mg KOH/g oil, which is beyond the allowable limits by WHO/FAO (0.6 mg KOH/g oil). Peroxide values were found to be 19.5 mill eq O₂/kg oil (minimum), and 62 mill eq O₂/kg oil (maximum), which are both above the recommended limits by WHO/FAO (10 mill eq O₂/kg oil). Iodine values were found to be from 102.87 to 48.26-g I₂/100 g oil, and were all beyond the recommended limits by WHO/FAO, of between 118- and 141-g I₂/100 g oil. The study has further revealed that the number of customers that are saved by the three cafeterias exceeds the capacity of the cafeterias. This study also found out that many students (almost 74%) are not aware on general knowledge about rancidity, including health effects of using rancid oils. It is therefore recommended to the national regulatory authorities to formulate strict regulations to guide and control oil rancidity.     

TEMPERATURE AND THE PRODUCTIVITY-LIGHT RELATIONSHIP1

ABSTRACT: Seventy-three in situ primary productivity experiments over a six-month period in hypereutrophic Onondaga Lake near Syracuse, New York, demonstrated variations in the light saturation parameter, I_p, which in part describes the interaction between productivity and light. Substantial variations in I_p were observed (coefficient of variation = 60 percent). Variations in I_p were significantly correlated (greater than 99 percent confidence level) with temperature (°C). An Arrhenius-type relationship (I_p= 1.312 × 1.088 (^T-20)) accounted for approximately 37 percent of the variation in I_p and may be appropriate for other systems dominated by green algae.     

Support vector machine based prediction of photovoltaic module and power station parameters

ABSTRACT

The uncertainty in the output power of the photovoltaic (PV) power generation station due to variation in meteorological parameters is of serious concern. An accurate output power prediction of a PV system helps in better design and planning. The present study is carried out for the prediction of output power of PV generating station by using Support Vector Machines. Two cases are considered in the present study for prediction. Case-I deals with the prediction of PV module parameters such as V_oc, I_sh, R_s, R_sh, I_max, V_max, P_max, and case-II deals with the prediction of power generation parameters such as P_DC, P_AC, and system efficiency. Historical data of PV power station with an installed capacity of 10 MW and weather information are used as input to develop four different seasons-based SVM models for all parameters. The performance results of the models are presented in terms of Mean Relative Error (MRE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Additionally, the performance results obtained with polynomial and Radial Based Function kernel are also compared to show that which kernel has better prediction accuracy, and practicability. The result shows that the minimum average RMSE and MRE for case-I with Radial Based Function kernel are 0.034%, 0.055%, 0.002%, 1.726%, 0.044%, 0.047%, 2.342%, and 0.005%, 0.014%, 0.079%, 0.885%, 0.005%, 0.007%, 0.013%, and for case-II with poly kernel are 0.014%, 0.016%, 0.149% and 0.011%, 0.0175, 1.03%, respectively. The present study will be helpful to provide technical guidance to the prediction of the PV power System.     

Robust reliability and electrical performances by the bulk-contact modulation in 60-V p-channel LDMOS power components

To increase reliability and electrical performance, shallow-trench isolation (STI) (or called field-oxide (FOX)) structures were inserted in the bulk-contact region of 60-V high-voltage p-channel lateral-diffused MOSFET (pLDMOS) devices in this study. As the FOX ratio increased with the addition of FOX segments, the value of the secondary breakdown current (I_t2) was enhanced. Therefore, the anti-electrostatic discharge ability of a pLDMOS device can be efficiently improved using this novel method. In addition, when the weighting ratio of FOX structures increased, variation values in the trigger voltage (V_t1) and holding voltage (V_h) of the corresponding samples remained within the range of approximately 1–4 V. The R_on value decreased because of more uniform conduction. The experimental data for the FOX structures added to the bulk revealed that the I_t2 value was improved by approximately 13.98%, V_h values were greater than 60 V (which is favorable for latch-up immunity), and the R_on value was decreased by approximately 12.62% compared with a reference device under test (without FOX segments in the bulk-contact region).     

A socioeconomic and natural vulnerability index for oil spills in an Amazonian harbor: A case study using GIS and remote sensing

The coastal zone of the Brazilian state of Maranhão is an area characterized by a large variety of human activities and services, in particular in the Itaqui-Bacanga port complex (IBC). The IBC is an area prone to oil spills resulting from the processes of transportation, storage, and tank cleaning. The present study aimed to map the different physical environments adjacent to this complex and the socioeconomic profile of the local population that would be most vulnerable to this type of disaster. Vulnerability studies are essential as one of the first step in the development of an integrated coastal zone management. The variables analyzed in this study included geomorphological units, and the income, education, and dependence on fishing of the local population. The estimate of the vulnerability index was based on the relationships between these variables, which were used to generate a vulnerability map using GIS and the interpretation of high-resolution remote sensing, showing the areas of highest priority for intervention in the case of oil spills. The analysis of the natural and socioeconomic environments indicated that the areas of highest vulnerability correspond to the mangroves and the Vila Nova and Alto da Esperança neighborhoods, respectively. These neighborhoods have a direct relationship with fishing, and low levels of both income and education. By contrast, the lowest vulnerability was attributed to the coastal plateau and the central Anjo da Guarda neighborhood, which is occupied by residents with relatively high income and education, who do not depend on fishing.     

Estimation of “environmentally sensitive” dispersal ratios for chemical dispersants used in crude oil spill control

The toxicities of two dispersants (Biosolve and OSD 9460), Forcados light crude oil and their mixtures based on ratios 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1 (v/v) were evaluated against the juvenile stage of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in laboratory bioassays. On the basis of the derived toxicity indices, Biosolve (96-h LC₅₀ = 0.211 μl/l) was found to be about 27,284 times more toxic than crude oil (96-h LC₅₀ = 5.757 ml/l) and 6,450 times more toxic than OSD 9460 (96-h LC₅₀ = 1.361 ml/l). OSD 9460 was also found to be four times more toxic than crude oil when acting alone against C. gariepinus. Toxicity evaluations of the mixtures of crude oil/dispersants mixtures varied, depending largely upon the proportion of addition of the mixture components. The interactions between mixture of crude oil and Biosolve at the test ratios of 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1 were found to conform with the model of synergism (SR = 7,655, 14,876, and 8,792, respectively), and the mixtures were therefore more toxic than the crude oil acting singly. Similarly, the interactions between mixture of crude oil and OSD 9460 at the test ratios of 6:1 and 9:1 also conformed to the model of synergism (SR = 2.2 and 1.84, respectively). Interactions between the dispersant OSD 9460 and the crude oil at test ratio 12:1, however, conformed to the model of antagonism (SR = 0.84), indicating that the mixture was less toxic than crude oil acting alone. The results of the emulsification potential of OSD 9460 and Biosolve [measured in terms of optical transmittance (%)] prepared at the dispersal ratios 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1 revealed that the dispersal ratio of 6:1 achieved the highest emulsification of the crude oil with optical transmittance value of 4% and 6%, respectively. Estimation of an “environmentally sensitive” dispersal ratio for OSD 9460 and Biosolve revealed the optimum dispersal ratio for OSD 9460 range between ratios 7.5:1 and 9:1, while for Biosolve such an optimum dispersal ratio was indeterminate within the range of test dispersal ratios. The implications of these results in setting manufacturer’s and regulatory dispersal ratios for chemical dispersants used for oil spill control were discussed.     

The Potential Use of Chicken-Drop Micro-Organisms for Oil Spill Remediation

An examination of chicken-drop micro-organisms for oil spill remediation is presented in this work. The chicken droppings contained aerobic heterotrophs (1.2×10⁸ CFU g^–1), total fungi (3.4×10⁴ CFU g^–1) and crude oil (transniger pipeline crude, TNP) degrading bacteria (1.5×10⁶ CFU g^–1). The crude oil degraders were identified as species of Micrococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Proteus, Klebsiella, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, and Penicillium. Pseudomonas aeruginosa CDB-06 and species of Bacillus CDB-08 and Penicillium CDF-10 degraded the crude oil at exceedingly high rates. Pseuedomonas aeruginosa CDB-06 degraded 65.5 percent of the crude oil after 16 days, while Bacillus sp. CDB-08, and Penicillium sp. CDF-10 degraded 65.3 percent, and 53.3 percent, respectively of the crude oil over the same period. The chicken droppings also had a pH 7.3, 18.5 percent moisture content, 2.3 percent total nitrogen, and 0.5 percent available phosphorus. Addition of oil polluted soil (10 percent (v/w) pollution level) with chicken droppings enhanced degradation of the crude oil in the soil. 68.2 percent of the crude oil was degraded in the soil amended with chicken droppings, whereas only 50.7 percent of the crude oil was degraded in the unamended soil after 16 days. The amendment raised the acidic reaction (pH 5.7) of the oil-polluted soil to alkaline (pH 7.2) within 16 days. Chicken droppings could, therefore, be used in an integrated oil pollution abatement program.     

Modeling potential herbicide loss to surface waters on the Swiss plateau

Lack of sufficiently detailed data often limits the applicability of complex transport-reaction models for estimating potential herbicide loss to surface waters. Therefore, there is also a need for simple models that are easy to apply but still capture the main features of the underlying processes.In this study, a simple regression model was developed to assess the vulnerability of catchments in the Swiss Plateau to diffuse herbicide loss to surface waters. The model is designed as a screening tool to rank the catchments in a relative sense and not to calculate Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PEC) of pesticides. The main goal is to capture two dominating factors controlling diffuse herbicide transport into streams and rivers. These factors are herbicide application and fast flow processes that are mainly responsible for herbicide transport. In a first step vulnerability of sites to herbicide loss is estimated based on site-specific conditions irrespective of actual herbicide application. In the second step, this vulnerability assessment is combined with actual herbicide application data to estimate the potential herbicide loss.The fast flow index (FFI), derived from discharge data using a base flow separation method, was applied as a proxy for the amount of fast flow occurring. The influence of catchment attributes (including topographic, climatic and soil data) on the FFI was analyzed using a multiple regression approach based on data from 57 catchments of the Swiss Plateau. By combining regression analysis with mechanistic knowledge, a two factor non-linear model based on river density and soil permeability as dominant input factors was selected as the best model for FFI prediction given the available data. Higher dimensional models had to be excluded because the strong correlation between the potential input factors led to unrealistic dependences while only minimally improving the quality of the fit.The spatial pattern of the predicted FFI as a measure for the vulnerability to diffuse herbicide losses shows a clearly increasing trend from the western to the eastern part of the Swiss Plateau and towards the pre-alpine/alpine regions in the south.In general the pattern of herbicide use corresponds to site conditions typical of a low FFI. However, the spatial analysis revealed exceptions, namely areas in which high actual herbicide use coincides with a high FFI.Despite the uncertainties in the model, this simple approach seems to be useful for supporting site-adapted agricultural practice whenever the higher accuracy of more detailed models is not required or too expensive to achieve. In addition, in combination with data on actual herbicide application, it can support the design of monitoring strategies by identifying critical areas of actual herbicide loss.     

Calculating resource restoration for an oil discharge in Lake Barre,Louisiana, USA

Under the United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990, natural resource trustees are charged with assessing natural resource impacts due to an oil spill and determining the type and amount of natural resource restoration that will compensate the public for the impacts. Habitat equivalency analysis is a technique through which the impacts due to the spill and the benefits of restoration are quantified; both are quantified as habitat resources and associated ecological services. The goal of the analysis is to determine the amount of restoration such that the services lost are offset by services provided by restoration. In this paper, we first describe the habitat equivalency analysis framework. We then present an oil spill case from coastal Louisiana, USA, where the framework was applied to quantify resource impacts and determine the scale of restoration. In the Louisiana case, the trustees assessed impacts for oiled salt marsh and direct mortality to finfish, shellfish, and birds. The restoration project required planting salt-marsh vegetation in dredge material that was deposited on a barrier island. Using the habitat equivalency analysis framework, it was determined that 7.5 ha of the dredge platform should be planted as salt marsh. The planted hectares will benefit another 15.9 ha through vegetative spreading resulting in a total of 23.4 ha that will be enhanced or restored as compensation for the natural resource impacts.     

Planning for the Human Dimensions of Oil Spills and Spill Response

Oil spill contingency planners need an improved approach to understanding and planning for the human dimensions of oil spills. Drawing on existing literature in social impact assessment, natural hazards, human ecology, adaptive management, global change and sustainability, we develop an integrative approach to understanding and portraying the human dimensions impacts of stressors associated with oil spill events. Our approach is based on three fundamental conclusions that are drawn from this literature review. First, it is productive to acknowledge that, while stressors can produce human impacts directly, they mainly affect intermediary processes and changes to these processes produce human impacts. Second, causal chain modeling taken from hazard management literature provides a means to document how oil spill stressors change processes and produce human impacts. Third, concepts from the global change literature on vulnerability enrich causal models in ways that make more obvious how management interventions lessen hazards and mitigate associated harm. Using examples from recent spill events, we illustrate how these conclusions can be used to diagrammatically portray the human dimensions of oil spills.     

Oil spill studies: A review of ecological effects

We reviewed seven particularly well known and/or studied oil spills that have occurred since the National Academy of Sciences 1975 report, Petroleum in the Marine Environment or that occurred prior to that report but about which significant new information has since been acquired. The spills studied were from the bargeFlorida, and tankersArrow, Argo Merchant, Amoco Cadiz, andTsesis and blowouts from the Bravo and Ixtoc I platforms.These best studies yield only limited insight into effects because they lack controls and have a high degree of natural variability. TheTsesis, Florida, andAmoco Cadiz cases are exceptional since they occurred in areas of ongoing research programs and had nearby areas suitable for controls. Oil spills have produced measurable effects on ecosystems that have not been readily predictable from laboratory studies on isolated organisms. However, ecosystemlevel interactions are poorly understood even without the complications resulting from effects of pollution. These generalizations emerge: oil regularly reaches sediments after a spill; oil in anoxic sediments is persistent; oil regularly contaminates Zooplankton and benthic invertebrates; fish are also contaminated, but to a lesser extent; oil contamination decreases the abundance and diversity of benthic communities.     

Evaluation of Reference Evapotranspiration Methods in Arid,Semiarid, and Humid Regions

It is often necessary to find a simpler method in different climatic regions to calculate reference crop evapotranspiration (ET_o) since the application of the FAO‐56 Penman‐Monteith method is often restricted due to the unavailability of a comprehensive weather dataset. Seven ET_o methods, namely the standard FAO‐56 Penman‐Monteith, the FAO‐24 Radiation, FAO‐24 Blaney Criddle, 1985 Hargreaves, Priestley‐Taylor, 1957 Makkink, and 1961 Turc, were applied to calculate monthly averages of daily ET_o, total annual ET_o, and daily ET_o in an arid region at Aksu, China, in a semiarid region at Tongchuan, China, and in a humid region at Starkville, Mississippi, United States. Comparisons were made between the FAO‐56 method and the other six simple alternative methods, using the index of agreement D, modeling efficiency (EF), and root mean square error (RMSE). For the monthly averages of daily ET_o, the values of D, EF, and RMSE ranged from 0.82 to 0.98, 0.55 to 0.98, and 0.23 to 1.00 mm/day, respectively. For the total annual ET_o, the values of D, EF, and RMSE ranged from 0.21 to 0.91, ?43.08 to 0.82, and 24.80 to 234.08 mm/year, respectively. For the daily ET_o, the values of D, EF, and RMSE ranged from 0.58 to 0.97, 0.57 to 0.97, and 0.30 to 1.06 mm/day, respectively. The results showed that the Priestly‐Taylor and 1985 Hargreaves methods worked best in the arid and semiarid regions, while the 1957 Makkink worked best in the humid region.     

In Situ Burning Restores the Ecological Function and Structure of an Oil-Impacted Coastal Marsh

As the use of in situ burning for oil spill remediation in coastal wetlands accelerates, the capacity of this procedure to restore the ecological structure and function of oil-impacted wetlands becomes increasingly important. Thus, our research focused on evaluating the functional and structural recovery of a coastal marsh in South Louisiana to an in situ burn following a Hurricane Katrina-induced oil spill. Permanent sampling plots were set up to monitor marsh recovery in the oiled and burned areas as well as non-oiled and non-burned (reference) marshes. Plots were monitored for species composition, stem density, above- and belowground productivity, marsh resiliency, soil chemistry, soil residual oil, and organic matter decomposition. The burn removed the majority of the oil from the marsh, and structurally the marsh recovered rapidly. Plant biomass and species composition returned to control levels within 9 months; however, species richness remained somewhat lower in the oiled and burned areas compared to the reference areas. Recovery of ecological function was also rapid following the in situ burn. Aboveground and belowground plant productivity recovered within one growing season, and although decomposition rates were initially higher in the oiled areas, over time they became equivalent to those in reference sites. Also, marsh resiliency, i.e., the rate of recovery from our applied disturbances, was not affected by the in situ burn. We conclude that in situ burning is an effective way to remove oil and allow ecosystem recovery in coastal marshes.     

Stimulated Biodegradation of Crude Oil in Soil Amended with Periwinkle Shells

The potential of periwinkle shell (PS) in enhancing the microbial break down of crude oil spilled in soil were studied. The results revealed that the counts of crude oil degrading bacteria in oil-polluted soil fortified with PS were higher than the counts in unfortified soil. The rates and total extent of crude oil biodegradation in the soil were stimulated by the amendment. About 43.4 percent of crude oil was degraded in unfortified soil after 16 days as compared to 70.1 percent oil biodegradation, which occurred in PS fortified soil during the same period. These values were significantly (P>0.05) different from each other. Amendment of the soil with PS also raised the pH of the soil from acidic to alkaline range. The crude oil degrading microorganisms identified in PS amended soil were of the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Acinetobacter, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor and Rhizopus. Similarly, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Mucor, Aspergillus and Penicillium were identified as crude oil degrading microorganisms in unamended soil. The bacteria formed either stable or unstable emulsions, suggesting that the organisms produce surface-active agents (biosurfactants) during the biodegradation process. The results of this study indicate that PS can be used in reclaiming oil-polluted soil.     

Comparative evaluation of sizing of metal hydride (MH) hydrogen storage tank filled with different alloys

This study presents a comparative analysis of sizing of metal hydride tank filled with different alloys. Alloys include solid solutions and intermetallic compounds of the generic families AB₅, AB₂, AB, A₂B. The effects of the different alloys on the sizing of metal hydride hydrogen storage tanks are complicated and depend on many factors. In this paper, a thermoeconomic optimization analysis with a simple algebraic formula was presented for the estimation of optimum metal hydride tank surface area for heat transfer enhancement. The optimum area of the metal hydride tank filled with commercially available different alloys (LaN₅, Ti_0,98Zr_0,02V_0,43Fe_0,09Cr_0,05Mn_1,5, TiFe, Mg₂NiH₄) was evaluated and compared by the developed method. The optimum net savings and the value of payback were determined for four alloys. It is found that mathematical model can be employed for the determination of optimum metal hydride tank design and increasing net savings according to alloy types. The optimum areas of the tanks filled with four alloys (LaN₅, Ti_0,98Zr_0,02V_0,43Fe_0,09Cr_0,05Mn_1,5, TiFe, Mg₂NiH₄) were calculated as 0.136, 0.130, 0.133, and 0.173 m², respectively. The optimum net savings for tanks filled with four alloys (LaN₅, Ti_0,98Zr_0,02V_0,43Fe_0,09Cr_0,05Mn_1,5, TiFe, Mg₂NiH₄) are about 461.0, 409.3, 419.6, and 979.6 $ and the values of payback are about 1.98, 2.1, 2.17, and 1.37 years, respectively. Excessive area of the metal hydride tank would not be as economical as the optimum tank area. Thermal management of metal hydride tank must be designed for optimum points calculated at which maximum savings occur.     

Predicting RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) Monthly Erosivity Index from Readily Available Rainfall Data in Mediterranean Area

Summary Seasonal rainerosivity is important in the structure and dynamics of Mediterranean ecosystems. The present paper contributes to the quantitative assessment of RUSLE's monthly erosion index in a data-scarce Mediterranean region. Therefore, a regionalized relationship for estimating monthly erosion index (EI_30-month) from only three rainfall parameters has been obtained. Knowledge of the seasonal and annual distribution of erosivity index, permit soil and water conservationists to make improved designs for erosion control, water harvesting or small hydraulic structures. Although a few long data sets were used in the analysis, validation with established monthly erosivity index values from other Italian locations, suggest that the model presented (r² = 0.973) is robust. It is recommended to monthly erosivity estimates when experimental data-scarce rainfall become available.     

Water quality indices appraisal and health risk assessment of nitrate,mercury and lead in water distribution network: A case study of Robat Karim in Tehran,Iran

Groundwater is a basic source of drinking water supply for urban and rural areas. This is especially the case for communities located in arid and semi-arid regions that rely on groundwater for drinking purposes. The present study set out to assess the potential health impacts of water impurities and to investigate the qualitative status of drinking water in Robat Karim rural areas, located in southwest Tehran, Iran. A total of 66 samples were collected from the water distribution network of 11 villages (33 sampling points, on two occasions) during September 2020 and were tested in terms of the most common quality parameters such as pH, mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chloride (Cl^–), chlorate (ClO₃^–), nitrite (NO₂^–), nitrate (NO₃^–), and flouride (F^–). Multiple methods and indexes including water quality index (WQI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI), were worked out to assess the quality of water and health risk assessment of NO₃^– Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺. The results revealed that 33% and 90% of sampling sites have significantly high nitrate and total hardness (TH) concentrations, exceeding the maximum permissible limits set by World Health Organization (WHO; 50 and 200 mg/L, respectively). Furthermore, five sampling points exhibited poor WQIs mainly related to NO₃^– and TH. HQ values higher than 1 for nitrate were noticed in most sampling locations. Except for one sampling point, the HQ obtained for Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ were below 1 indicating no obvious health hazard. This study represents that children and infants are at higher risk of chronic toxicity by excess NO₃^– intake. The health hazard that is yet imposed on the community by NO₃^– necessitates regular monitoring of drinking water, the use of advanced technologies to purify water or otherwise alternative resources should be proposed.