Estimation of Aquifer Parameters in Awka and Environs, Anambra State, Nigeria, Using Electrical Resistivity Method
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International Journal of Innovative Scientific & Engineering Technologies Research 8(4):1-29, Oct.-Dec., 2020 © SEAHI PUBLICATIONS, 2020 www.seahipaj.org ISSN: 2360-896X Estimation of Aquifer Parameters in Awka and Environs, Anambra State, Nigeria, using Electrical Resistivity Method Onyenweife, G.I1*., Nwozor, K.K1., Onuba, L.N1., Nwike, I.S1 & Egbunike, M.E1. Department of Geology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Nigeria *Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The indiscriminate drilling and increasing populace and their economic activities have been in collaboration to abstraction of groundwater potential in the study area. Apparently, the above mentioned challenges of Awka and environs have proven the basis to unleash the aquiferous zones and parameters from the analysis of groundwater system for proper knowledge of aquifers in the study area. The use of electrical resistivity method which is the most commonly used geophysical method of groundwater exploration were employed in this study. In this electrical resistivity method, the use of Schlumberger array posed greater importance in delineating the aquifer parameters described by depth, thickness, transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. Aquifer is described as geological formation capable of yielding economic quantity of water through recharge and discharge via water cycle. VES data of the nine (9) communities of Awka and environs at two locations each were plotted with IPI2WIN software and interpreted geologically and geophysically in subsections, the results revealed 4-6 layers. The nine (9) communities of Awka and environs were subdivided into zone A and zone B to enable easy work flow and pumping test analysis using the two existing borehole VES 4 and VES 14 data. The constant of proportionalities Kσ =A were evaluated from the resulted transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the study area. The hydraulic conductivity values ranges from 0.13 m/day to 1.46 m/day in zone A and from 0.11 m/day to 1.00 m/day in zone B. Transmissivity results for zone A ranges from 3.92 m2/day to 145.56 m2/day in zone A whereas those of zone B range from 3.34 m2/day to 60.08 m2/day. From the geological/geophysical analysis, the transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of the two zones in the study area varies from 3.34 m2/day to 145.56 m2/day and 0.11 m/day to 1.46 m/day respectively. The transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity results of the study area revealed moderately good – fairly/low and clayey – fine sand respectively which constituted by the geological formations of the study area. The VES data of nine (9) communities with the existing geophysical logging data of Ezinato and Isiagu Layout ascertained the true lithologic constituents of Awka and environs when correlated. The research proved moderately good groundwater potentials in the study area. Keywords: VES, Aquifer Thickness, Aquifer Resistivity, Transverse Resistance, Transmissivity, Hydraulic Conductivity and Geophysical logging. 1. INTRODUCTION Groundwater is ubiquitous but its availability in economic quantity may depend solely on the distribution of the subsurface geomaterials called aquifers (George et. al., 2011). Aquifer being the underground layer of water-bearing zone is also a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater. Aquifer is described by depth, thickness, transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity through the process of recharge and discharge via water cycle. 1 Onyenweife …. Int. J. Inno. Scientific & Eng. Tech. Res. 8(4):1-29, 2020 Within the urban centers of a developing world, groundwater is exceptionally important as a source of relatively low cost and high quality civic and domestic water supply. However, Okoro et al., (2010) noted that the understanding and management of groundwater in aquifer is still weak in many developing countries and investment in groundwater projects often is funded with inadequate quantitative/qualitative data resulting in massive borehole failures. This is because the groundwater potential of an area is determined by a complex inter-relationship between the geology, physiography, post emplacement tectonic history (fractures), weathering processes and depth, nature of the weathered layer, groundwater flow pattern, recharge and discharge processes (Ezeh, 2012). The lack of safe and sustainable water supply in Awka and environs cannot be overemphasized as human population and economic activities rapidly increase which result to high demand on groundwater. Apparently, the most alarming fact is indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater through the drilling of boreholes by local drillers creating great percentage of borehole failures thus, not consulting relevant professionals for proper assessment of aquifer depth. However, there is need for proper assessment of aquifer parameters. Also, effective identification and correlation of aquifer depth and thickness should be carried out for more availability of sustainable groundwater supply. 2. LOCATION AND GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE STUDY AREA The study area includes nine (9) communities under Awka South Local Government Area in Anambra State of Nigeria. It lies within the latitudes: 06° 06’N and 06° 15’N and longitudes: 07° 05’E and 07° 15’E and covers a land area of about 120 km². The Communities surveyed in this research are Amawbia, Awka, Ezinato, Isiagu, Mbaukwu, Nibo, Nise, Okpuno and Umuawulu (Fig. 1). The study area is reasonably accessible. The Enugu–Onitsha express way is the major route that facilitates mobility within the study area. Rivers that drain Awka and environs are Haba, Obibia, Obizi, Okpuno, Idemili and Mamu rivers (Muoghalu and Okonkwo, 1998). Some of the rivers in Awka and environs dry up in the middle of the dry season leaving sandy exposed surfaces. These river valleys support the growth of dense vegetation ranging from light rainforest to savannah. Climatologically, records show that Awka and environs lie in the rain forest zone of Nigeria within the tropical wet climate zone having two distinct seasons: wet season from April to October and dry season from November to March. A period of extreme coldness and dryness called the harmattan dots the dry season from around the months of December to January. The mean temperature which prevails over this region varies between 27 ºC - 28ºC which most times peak to 35ºC between January and April (Iloeje, 1981). Annual rainfall of about 2000 mm is witnessed within this region with maximum monthly rainfall during the peaks ranging from 270 mm – 360 mm. The relative humidity ranges between 85 % and 100% during the rainy season and less than 70% during the dry season (Odumodu and Ekenta, 2012). Awka South lies within the Anambra Basin. In Anambra Basin, the strongly folded Albian-Conacian succession (Pre-Santonian sediments) is overlain by nearly flat-lying Campanian-Eocene succession. The oldest sediments in the Anambra Basin is the Nkporo Group (Nwajide, 1990). It was deposited into the basin in late Campanian, comprising Nkporo Shale, Owelli Sandstone and Enugu Shale (Reyment, 1965 and Obi, 2001). Nkporo Group is overlain by Mamu Formation, and was deposited in Early Maastrichtian (Kogbe, 1989 and Obi, 2000). It comprises succession of siltstone, shale, coal seam and sandstone (Kogbe, 1989). Ajali sandstone (Maastrichtian) overlies Mamu Formation (Reyment, 1965 and Nwajide, 1990) which is mainly unconsolidated coarse-fine grained, poorly cemented, mudstone and siltstone (kogbe, 1989). Imo Shale (Paleocene) overlies Nsukka Formation (Nwajide, 1990). It comprises clayey shale with occassional ironstone and thin sandstone in which carbonized plants remains may occur (Kogbe, 1989). Ajali sandstone is overlain by diachronous Nsukka Formation (Maastrichtian to Danian) which is also known as the Upper coal measure (Reyment, 1965 and Obi, 2000). Awka and environs are partly underlain by Paleocene Imo Shale Formation and Eocene Ameki Formation. Imo Shale consists of blue – grey shale with sand members where are; Ebenebe, Umuna, and Igbaku sand members. 2 Onyenweife …. Int. J. Inno. Scientific & Eng. Tech. Res. 8(4):1-29, 2020 Fig. 1: Map showing the Regional Stratigraphy of Anambra Basin (After Obaje et al., 2009). 3. METHODOLOGY 3.1 Field Procedure of VES Data Acquisition The geophysical investigation was made with Earth Resistivity equipment and ABEM Terrameter SAS 300 which is highly sensitive with a digital readout. Electrical resistivity method is one of the most useful geophysical techniques in groundwater exploration because the resistivity of rocks is sensitive to its ionic content (Alile et al., 2011). In schlumberger array, four electrodes were connected to the terrameter using the connecting cables and spread linearly, with the potential electrodes close to the sounding station and the current electrode at the end of the spread. In this study, a total of eighteen (18) vertical electrical sounding traverses were run in nine (9) communities of Awka South Local Government Area. Two VES traverses each were run in Amawbia, Awka, Ezinato, Isiagu, Mbaukwu, Nibo, Nise, Okpuno and Umuawulu towns in order to estimate the variations in the resistivity distribution of the soil with depth. Each of the sounding points was georeferenced using a hand held GPS. The vertical electrical sounding (VES) data acquired from the field are converted to apparent resistivity values by multiplying the resistance with the appropriate Schlumberger geometric factors given by 3 Onyenweife …. Int. J. Inno. Scientific & Eng. Tech. Res. 8(4):1-29, 2020