Shallow aquifer resources in the federal capital territory of Nigeria

Abstract

Public water supply to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria is inadequate and an alternative source of water includes streams, hand-dug wells and boreholes. A survey showed that 41% of the territory uses hand-dug wells, while 23% depends on boreholes and 16% depends on streams. Measurements were taken from 84 wells in 2002 and 2003 to assess the contribution of hand-dug wells. The parameters considered include ground surface elevation, water level, permeability and well yield. The well diameter ranged between 0.7 and 1.2 m, while the depth ranged between 4.5 and 16 m. The permeability ranged between 0.000518 and 0.002541 cm/s. The source of recharge to the aquifer is rain, and well productivity ranged between 211 and 1806 L/day. Wells located in seven out of nine groups considered cannot meet the water demand of an average household (20 people) in the territory.