Quality Assessment and Evaluation of Groundwater Potentials in Parts of Buruku and Gboko Local Government Area Councils in Benue State

Abstract

Hydraulic and layer parameters of groundwater aquifer have been evaluated in parts of Buruku and Gboko local government area councils, for the primary purpose of assessing quality and potential of groundwater in the areas. A total of 18 Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) stations were occupied along traverse lines using the Schlumberger electrode configuration. The results revealed a characteristic QQA, QHH and QH type curves, with 6 - 7 geoelectric subsurface layers. The geoelectric layers are dominantly sandy with intercalations of shale at shallow depths in most stations. The aquiferous layers were delineated at the fourth and fifth geoelectric layers with average aquifer resistivity and depth of 420.56 Ω·m and 69.1 m, respectively. Groundwater flow is generally from the northeast to the southwest in line with the tectonics of the Benue trough. Two potential groundwater zones were delineated. These are the zone of poor quality water to the north (central) and east of the area of high potential and the zone of quality groundwater to the northeast, west and southwest of low potential. The study revealed that productive boreholes for excellent and sustainable yields were more viable in the northern (central) and eastern parts of the study area than in the northeast, west and southwest parts.