Vulnerability studies of aquifer potential within Auchi Polytechnic Campuses

Abstract

The increase in anthropogenic activities resulting from an increase in population in Auchi and environs has made ground water within the study area vulnerable to contamination through infiltration. This research is necessary to ascertain the vulnerability status of aquifer potential within Auchi. The vulnerability of the aquifer potential in the study area was studied with the application of the Dar Zarrouk model. The field data were collected with an Omega 48 resistivity meter using the electrical resistivity method. The Schlumberger arrangement was used to obtain ten (10) vertical electrical soundings (VES) with current electrodes at a maximum spacing of 350m. Seven to ten geo-electric layers were discovered from the analyzed field data. The lithology of the subsoil was found to be predominantly sandstone, with some clay and shale thrown in for good measure. The aquifer has a thickness of 34.995m and 98.557m as the lowest and highest figures, respectively, with an average figure of 59.717m. The aquifer depth was estimated to have a minimum figure of 105.11m and a maximum figure of 140.38m, with an average figure of 123.423m. The aquifer resistivity in the study area was found to have the lowest figure of 404.76Ωm and the highest figure of 4094.5Ωm, with an average figure of 1442.957Ωm. The longitudinal conductance across the region ranges from 0.0162 to 0.2093mhos with an average value of 0.0651mhos, whereas the transverse resistance has a minimum and maximum values of 21661.2144Ωm2 to 272317.006Ωm2 respectively with an average figure of 85393.0926Ωm2.Transmissivity figures of 578.3125m2/day as a minimum and 675.5673m2/day as a maximum with an aver age of 621.7676m2/day were obtained. The entire study area is generally characterized by low and weak aquifer protective capacity, indicating that the aquifer within the research area is prone to contamination via infiltration. This study would be beneficial in groundwater development and management across the study area and it would also help educate the residents of Auchi on the proper ways of waste disposal.