Hydrogeophysical Evaluation of Groundwater Potential in Federal Housing Estate Lugbe, Abuja, Nigeria using Electrical Resistivity Method

Abstract

Inadequate potable water supply remains one of the challenges of residents of Federal Housing Estate, Lune, Abuja, Nigeria The groundwater potential of the area was investigated using vertical electrical sounding (VES) method A total maniber of 40 VES points were used for the investigation using Schlumberger array and the data obtamed were analysed using curve matching and computer iteration techniques. The data revealed both a 3-layer (H-Curvey and 4-layer (HA-curve) for the are in the 3-er system, the apparent resistivity of the first layer ranged from 63 Om to 658 m with a corresponding thickness of 0.8 to 2/\pi . The second layer has apparent resistivity varying from 39 10 726 m with a corresponding thickness range of 3.0 to 21.7 m while the third layer lus resistivity values ranging from 96 to 6769 43m to an infinite depth. For the fair layered model curves, the first layers retty ranged from 37 to 1057 m, with a cutresponding thickness range of 0.5 to 2.4m The resmiray of the second layers ranged between 28 to 2453 Ohm with a corresponding thickness range of 1.4 m to 15.3 m. The resistivity of the third layer tanged from 25 to 2441 Qm and a comespalling thickness range of 73 to 373 in respetively. The forth layer has a resistivity value ranging deum to 6820 2m and an infinite depth. An integration of the sopach and isoresistivity ma for both the 3 and 4 layer model curves indicates that the northern parts of the study area bave low apparent resimvity values and thick uverbunden which implies good groundwater potential while the southeruption has higher relativity values and shallow overbunden. an indication of poor groundwater potential. Funre boreholes in the area should reached an effective depth of 45~10~b^{2} m and the borebola be japers ined by a certified hydrogeologist for optimum groundwater yields Pumping test should be carried out in order to ascertain the size and type of submersible pump to install.