Geo-Electrical Resistivity Survey for Fresh Groundwater Investigation in Mirsharai Economic Zone, Chittagong in the South-Eastern Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

14 Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 2020, vol. 60, pp. 181-194 https://doi.org/10.3126/jngs.v60i0.31262 Geo-electrical resistivity survey for fresh groundwater investigation in Mirsharai Economic Zone, Chittagong in the south-eastern coastal areas of Bangladesh *A.S.M. Woobaidullah, Md. Ariful Islam, Md. Zakir Hossain, Md. Shahidul Islam Geology Department, Dhaka University, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Salinity in the groundwater is one of the major concerning issues in the coastal region of Bangladesh. Mirsharai Economic Zone, Mirsharai Upazila in the south-eastern coastal region of Chittagong District of Bangladesh, requires substantial amount of fresh groundwater supply for industrial and household use. The purpose of this study is to delineate the aquifer system of the study area and to determine the extension of potential fresh water aquifer for groundwater development through geophysical electrical resistivity sounding survey. Vertical Electrical Sounding in conjunction with borehole data provides information about the saline-fresh water interface, depth distribution, thickness of the fresh-water aquifers and local lithology. Lithological cross section shows that the sedimentary deposition and aquifer-aquitard distribution of this region are irregular even within a short spatial distance. The surface layer of top soil of clay or silty clay composition identified as aquitard shows resistivity in the ranges from 1.24 Ωm to 11 Ωm. This aquitard is underlain by a sand layer acting as shallow aquifer of varying thickness shows resistivity ranging mostly from 1.9 Ωm to 11Ωm reflecting the pore space water as saline to brackish. A second aquitard is underlain by the shallow aquifer of varying thickness. A deep fresh water aquifer, overlain by the second aquitard, shows resistivity in the range of 16 Ωm to73 Ωm indicating the pore space water as fresh. But the aquifer is interrupted by clay/silty clay layers at the deeper part in the middle portion. This study provides depth to the fresh water aquifer as well as probable suitable regions for groundwater development. Keywords: Resistivity; Aquifer; Aquitard; Vertical electrical sounding; Borehole log Received: 6 May, 2020 Received in revised form: 5 July, 2020 Accepted: 6 July, 2020 INTRODUCTION 2001; Kouzana et al., 2009; Woobaidullah and Zohir Uddin, 2011; Rahman et al.,2013; Gautam et al., 2014; Adequate supply of fresh water is a major concern Rahman and Bhattacharya, 2014; Woobaidullah et al., for most of the nation worldwide, particularly along 2014, 2019). Mirsharai economic zone of Chittagong the coastal regions due to saline sea water intrusion. District, a coastal and tidal floodplain area, contains Saline water intrusion into the aquifers of coastal shallow aquifers contaminated with saline water. Both areas worldwide creates a great problem to ensure surface and shallow aquifer water in the study area, clean water supply for all sorts of usage. Bangladesh especially in the dry months, are not drinkable due like other countries needs essential background to less rainfall and intrusion of saline water (BEZA, information about the geology and present 2014; Zahid et al., 2016; Islam, 2019; ). For rapid hydrogeological setting of coastal area for developing and intensive industrialization of the area it is now optimal management strategies (Woobaidullah et al., inevitable to search for an option of deep fresh water 1996; Islam, 2019; Zahid et al., 2016). aquifers. Over the past few decades geophysical methods The coastal areas of Bangladesh, stretching from have gained popularity due to their ability to map Khulna at the west to the Cox’s Bazar in the east, hydrogeologic properties. The emerging use of have been studied previously by academic scholars, geophysical methods for hydrogeological imaging agencies and organizations for exploration of the has yielded a new field of research, hydro-geophysics. local geology and groundwater (Hasan et al., 1997; Electrical resistivity method is one of the most widely Imam et al., 2013; BEZA, 2014; Woobaidullah et al., used, easiest, highly reliable and cheapest method for 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2008; Zahid et al., surveying large areas (Serres,1969; Buggand Lloyd, 2016). Very few works have been carried out in the 1976; Oteri et al., 1983; Elwaheidi et al.,1992; Acworth, Mirsharai economic zone specifically for deciphering 181 Woobaidullah et al. subsurface geological and hydrogeological conditions 91˚27' and 91˚39' east longitudes and has an area of (BEZA, 2014; Farah Didul Nabi et. el., 2019). 482.88 km2 (BBS) and is bounded by Tripura State of India, Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar Upazilas to As the sub-surface geology of Mirsharai area is the north, Sitakunda and Sandwip Upazilas on the complex few available boreholes in the area often south, Fatikchhari Upazila on the east, Sonagazi and fail to identify sustainable fresh water supplies. The Companyganj (Noakhali) Upazilas on the west (Fig. main objective of the research was to delineate the 1). The entire study area Mirsharai economic zone safe aquifers in Mirsharai economic zone, specifically contains plain land topography. It is situated on the to explore sustainable fresh water aquifers for large northernmost part of the Sitakunda anticline. scale abstraction, the required depth and spatial and vertical changes in water quality based on surface The main drainage in the area occurs through river geophysical resistivity survey in conjunction with Feni and Sandwip channel with some small canals available borehole log information. like Ichhakhali, Mahamaya, Domkhali, Hinguli, Koila-Govania and Mayani Khal. Tidal effects along the coast are generally up to 2 m above mean sea level STUDY AREA on the floodplain are generally masked by the depth of river flooding. This region occupies the northern Geomorphology and Drainage edge of the young Meghna Estuarine Floodplain. It Mirsharai Upazila (Chittagong District) is located comprises smooth, almost level floodplain ridges and between 22˚39' and 22˚59' north latitudes and between shallow basins (http://en.banglapedia.org). Fig. 1: Map of study area showing its location within Bangladesh. 182 Geo-electrical resistivity survey for fresh groundwater investigation Geological Settings response of the earth to the flow of electrical current. Surface geology of the study area has two distinct In these methods, an electrical current is passed into patterns. The tertiary sediments are exposed in the the ground through a pair of current electrodes and two potential electrodes records the resultant potential Table 1: Stratigraphy of Chittagong and surrounding area (Karim, 1990). Age Formation Description Alluvium Fluvio-tidal complex Holocene Unconformity Dihing Poorly sorted, Pebbly sandstone and mottled clay Pliocene Unconformity Dupitila Massive medium to coarse grained sandstone, Sandy clay Mio-Pliocene and siltstone Unconformity Miocene Girujan Clay (Mottled Clay (Not exposed in this area Interbedded sandstone, interlaminated silty sandstone with Miocene Tipam Sandstone occasionally thinly laminated siltstone and shale Miocene Bokabil Silty clayey shale with interbedded sandstone eastern hilly part following the regional trend of the difference between them, giving a way to measure the area. A stratigraphy for the Chittagong and adjacent electrical impedance of the subsurface material. The area has been proposed by Karim, 1990 (Table 1). current electrodes are generally placed outside of the potential electrodes (Kearey and Brooks, 1984). The The plain land is covered with Holocene Alluvium apparent resistivity is then a function of the measured sediments and the western part has tidal influence. impedance (ratio of potential to current) and the The study area belongs to the plain land of Holocene geometry of the electrode array. Depending upon Alluvium sediments. The Holocene Alluvium the survey geometry, the apparent resistivity data sediments are mainly composed of alternations of are plotted as 1-D soundings, 1-D profiles, or in 2-D sand, silty clay and clay. Available borehole log data of cross-sections in order to look for anomalous regions the area suggest that the thickness of these sediments (Griffiths and Ring, 1981). covers more than 300 m of depth. The presence of ground water controls much of the Water Resources and Hydrology conductivity variation in the subsurface. Measurement Surface water is dominated by standing water such as of resistivity (inverse of conductivity) is, in general, a ponds, lakes and watercourses such as streams, rivers, measure of water saturation and connectivity of pore and wetlands. The major rivers in the area are Feni and space. Ground water decreases resistivity and electric Muhuri. The Muhuri River originates in the Lushai current follows the path of least resistance (Keller and Hills of Tripura and flows west into Bangladesh Frischknecht.1996). Increasing saturation, salinity covering an area of 40,080 hectares. The Muhuri of the ground water, porosity of rock and number has a width of about 150 to 200 meters but influence of fractures (water-filled) tend to decrease measured of tidal action increases as it approaches the sea. resistivity. Depth of burial, age and compaction of Irrigation is mostly done from canal water and also by soils or rock units effectively increase resistivity. adding tube-well water. Water is generally muddy and Saturation of hydrocarbon in voids/fractures in rocks saline in nature. The depth of the

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