HYDROGEOPHYSICAL DELINEATION OF PROLIFIC GROUNDWATER AQUIFER AROUND STUDENTS’ HOSTELS IN FUPRE CAMPUS, NIGERIA

Alaminiokuma G.I,Omigie J.I

doi:10.26480/gbr.02.2020.68.72

Abstract

Electrical resistivity survey was conducted around Students’ Hostels in FUPRE to delineate prolific aquifer for potable water to serve the teeming population of staff and students. Five vertical electrical soundings (VES) using Schlumberger electrode configuration with a maximum current electrode spread of 300m were employed for data acquisition. WINRESIST software was employed to execute the iteration and inversion processes of computing resistivities, depths and thicknesses of the various layers and the curve types. Results indicate that the area is characterized by 4 distinct geoelectric layers inferred differently at the VES locations. Two potential groundwater aquifer zones are delineated. The unconfined shallow aquifer zones found at VES 1, 3, 4 and 5 locations have shallow overburden depth ranging between 3.7-19.3m and coarse-grained sand columns with thicknesses ranging between 2.8-17.7m while the confined deep aquifer zone found at VES 2 location coincides with deep overburden layer at a depth of 42.6m and coarse-grained sand column with appreciable thickness of 19.1m. These results suggest that boreholes for sustainable groundwater supply around the Students’ Hostels should be sited at VES 2 location and screened at a depth ≥40.0m. However, aquifers at VES 1, 3, 4 and 5 have potentials for groundwater but are vulnerable to contamination. It is recommenced that electrical resistivity and hydrogeological surveys should be conducted at different locations in FUPRE, before any borehole(s) are drilled, to delineate the appropriate aquifer for potable groundwater supply and to avoid possible contamination.

Highlights

The rapid expansion in infrastructure and increase in population of staff and students witnessed by the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) and its proximity to surrounding communities such as Ugbomro, Iteregbi, Ebrumede, Okuatata, Okuokoko, Okorikpere and Agbarho where most staff and students reside have led to the growing high demands for potable water to serve the teeming population
The study reveals that the aquifer characteristics vary laterally and vertically from one Vertical electrical sounding (VES) location to another around the students’ hostels in FUPRE
This may be due to the difference in mineralogical compositions of the rock types that make up the soil. This non-uniformity in aquifer characteristics implies that prolific groundwater will not occur under the same conditions in different parts of FUPRE the need for this study

Summary

Introduction

The rapid expansion in infrastructure and increase in population of staff and students witnessed by the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) and its proximity to surrounding communities such as Ugbomro, Iteregbi, Ebrumede, Okuatata, Okuokoko, Okorikpere and Agbarho where most staff and students reside have led to the growing high demands for potable water to serve the teeming population. The aim of this research is to delineate prolific groundwater aquifer with the objectives of determining the appropriate lithology for quality groundwater without mineralization and contamination, depth to the prolific aquifer and thickness to provide the maximum yield at all seasons of the year to meet this growing demands for potable water in the absence of public water utility system. The availability of potable water basically depends on the soil composition, depth and thickness of aquifer and environmental factors such as content of dissolved salts, mineralization of rocks, among others.

Objectives

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion