Abstract
The following form the focus of the research work: Determine the physical parameters like conductivity, color, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature, chemical and biological parameters. Using static water level, cation exchange capacity, organic contents, nitrate and chloride to evaluate the vulnerability of the aquifers in the study area. Eighty-eight water samples were collected from 22 locations across the periods of dry (January), dry-wet (March), wet (June), wet-dry (September), to highlight the influence of micro-climatic conditions between January to September 2015 on groundwater vulnerability. In this study, the relationship between various elements has been studied using correlation analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis and vulnerability index (using the Static water level, Cation Exchange Capacity, Organic Contents, Nitrate and Chloride). Vulnerability index reveals that intrusive and Eze-Aku Formation are more vulnerable than Asu-River Group. The data also show that the aquifer in the study area are not vulnerable to nitrate, organic content and CEC but are rather vulnerable to fecal coliform due to water from runoff that infiltrates into the aquifer from the vadose zone during precipitation in the area.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONIn Cross River State, the Mamfe Embayment is the least studied in terms of groundwater quality/potentials
In Cross River State, the Mamfe Embayment is the least studied in terms of groundwater quality/potentials.The area has high potentials, where a lot geochemical study was carried out with drilling
The data show that the aquifer in the study area are not vulnerable to nitrate, organic content and CEC but are rather vulnerable to fecal coliform due to water from runoff that infiltrates into the aquifer from the vadose zone during precipitation in the area
Summary
In Cross River State, the Mamfe Embayment is the least studied in terms of groundwater quality/potentials. Asu River Group is the basal and oldest recorded sediment in the study area. It is dominated by bluish-gray/black to olivine brown shale and sandy shale, fine-grained micaceous calcareous sandstone and siltstone with limestone lenses. CRBDA (Cross River Basin Development Authority) (1982) put the yield for this province (weathered zones) at 84.4-345.6 m3/day. Shale-sandstone or shale/siltstone province is the largest hydrogeological province in the study area, occupying about 80% of the study area This area cuts across locations like Obubra, Apiapum, Nko, Ekori, Ugep, Ochom and Agara Ekureku. It constitutes the geologic Asu River Group and Eze-Aku formation. Shale/siltstones province record very low aquifer yield of 0.05-0.5 L/sec, while some sub-area record up to 2.02 L/sec (CRBDA, 1982)
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