International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) |Volume VII, Issue XI, November 2022|ISSN 2454-6194
Adigwe.Adanna Blessing1, *Nwosu, Leonard Ifeanyi2, and Nwosu, Bright Obinna3
1,2Department of Physics University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria,
3Department of Geology University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author’s
Abstract: Electrical resistivity method for evaluation of groundwater potential in the Owerri North was carried out based on aquifer transmissivity obtained using Dar Zarouk parameters and pumping test data. Twenty vertical electric soundings (VES) were carried out in this study. The field data were acquired using the Omega-500 resistivity meter and interpreted using Advanced Geoscience Incorporation (AGI) 1D resistivity inversion software. Five of the VES stations were sited near existing boreholes from which pumping test data were acquired. Transverse resistance and Longitudinal conductance were determined, which together with hydraulic conductivity derived from pumping test data enabled the estimation of aquifer transmissivity and its variation in the study area. The aquiferous layers are composed mainly of sands and sandstones. Resistivity values varied with depth and ranges from 0.10Ωm to 1208.50Ωm. The aquifer depth varied from 8.50m to 67.07m. The aquifer thickness varied across the study area from a value of 8.32m around ChukwumaNwoha to 199.42m measured at Agbala. Areas having high aquifer thickness also have corresponding high Transmissivity values and so have high groundwater potential. High transverse resistance above 10000Ω were observed in areas around Owaelu, while low values of 3100Ω and less were observed in areas such as Emekuku. Areas around VES 6, 11 and 15 are underlain by high Longitudinal conductance aquifer materials. Transmissivity values are fairly high and varied from 264m2/day at Azaraegbelu to 276m2/day at Shoprite Egbu. The study revealed that the study area has good prospect for sustainable groundwater supply.
Keywords: Groundwater, Transmissivity, Pumping test, Dar Zarouk parameter, resistivity
I. INTRODUCTION
There is growing necessity for improved water supply for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses. There is also need to establish safe means of sewage disposal in the study area to control the sanitation related diseases, prevalent in the area. The Government’s inability to provide water to citizens has resulted to proliferation of private shallow and substandard water wells, predominantly producing water of poor quality (Nwachukwu, 2022). Hence there are several cases of abortive, failed and abandoned water wells in several homes, causing economic loss, stress and unhappiness to households. Sometimes an individual may have made two or more abortive wells before success, which still produce water for a period not exceeding five years. The fact remains that there is increasing water crises in the study area despite all private efforts and