Geophysical Electrical Investigation of Groundwater Contamination Using Resistivity Method at a Dumpsite in Ibwa, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Ground water occurrence and distribution in a basement complex is localize and confined to weathered / fractured zone. Hence, exploration of groundwater in such terrain poses a great threat and challenge to the Ibwa community. This study was aimed at using vertical electrical sounding (VES) method to investigate the level of ground water contamination within the community of Ibwa village Gwagwalada area council. The result showed the presence of four geoelectric layers, top soil, Sandy clay, clayey sand and the basement. The resistivity values were obtained range from 20.1 Ωm to 149.0 Ωm at the first layers of most all the sounding points around the dumpsite. Other layers showed high resistivity values but not as that of high asthe control site, an indication that there are leachate plume from the dump through the process of percolation. The result is further back up with water analysis test which shows that all parameters measured falls within the World health organization standard for drinking water (WHO Threshold). The result showed that for the Well water sample is higher in acidity. It is clear therefore that there are more dissolved substances in the well water around the area as a result of leachate from the dumpsite.