Abstract
In coastal regimes groundwater aquifers are often vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. Saltwater intrusion is often precipitated by natural hydrodynamic processes and overpumping of groundwater resource. Saltwater intrusion is presumed to have significant effect on quality of groundwater and accountable for lack of access to freshwater in the areas under study. The objective of this study is to use resistivity data obtained from vertical electrical sounding to ascertain the salinity of shallow aquifers, determine depth and thickness of freshwater aquifers. The Schlumberger array configuration was employed in acquisition of data. The maximum and minimum spacing between electrodes (AB/2) ranged from 2m to 250m. Resistivity values ranged from 0.24Ωm to 427Ωm, Values which ranged from 0.2Ωm to 4Ωm was construed to be aquifer saturated with saltwater, brackish water was inferred from resistivity values which vary between 7Ωm and 11Ωm, and clay was assigned to resistivity values that ranged from 17Ωm to 29Ωm. Effect of tide contributes to salinity of shallow aquifer around the seashore area. Aquifers saturated with saltwater are found at the depths of 10.5m, brackish water at 4m to 9m, while freshwater can be located from the depth of 19-46m. The study is able to reveal that groundwater quality has been compromised by intrusion of saltwater. We conclude that there is potential of saltwater intrusion into the freshwater lenses, which may be enhanced in the future by over- development of groundwater. Key words: Escravos, Vertical electrical sounding, Saltwater Intrusion, freshwater lenses, Aquifer, groundwater
Highlights
Groundwater contributes a greater percentage of water usage in domestic, irrigation of agricultural farms and industrial purposes
Coastal regions are characterized by the problem of saltwater intrusion, which reduces the quality of groundwater and renders it worthless
The interface of saltwater and freshwater is 19.189m. This investigation revealed that groundwater quality of the study area has been compromised due to the presence of saltwater
Summary
Groundwater contributes a greater percentage of water usage in domestic, irrigation of agricultural farms and industrial purposes. Boreholes are often abandoned, when the aquifers they are tapping from are contaminated with saltwater Groundwater from such aquifers are no longer portable, the effect of which is attendant reduction in the quantity of groundwater available to users. Most faced with these myriad problems are those communities inhabiting coastal regions of the world. At the region where groundwater flow from inland areas and discharges into the ocean and estuary, there is saltwater interface which is usually initiated by recirculation of saltwater. The objective of this paper is to use resistivity data obtained from
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