Geoelectric Evaluation of Aquifer Potential and Vulnerability of Northern Paiko, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out using vertical electrical sounding (VES) to evaluate the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capacity of Northern Paiko. Sixty vertical electrical soundings were obtained across the study area using Schlumberger electrode configuration. Three to four geoelectric layers were delineated from the interpreted results. The stratigraphy of the subsurface shows: topsoil (62.8–3082 Xm), weathered layer (15.2–80 368 Xm), fractured layer (191–236 672 Xm), and the fresh basement (79.9–308 865 Xm). The weathered layer was delineated as the major aquiferous horizon. From the results, the resistivity, thickness, and longitudinal conductance maps were drawn. It was observed that groundwater potential is low in about 76.7% of the study area. This study has also shown that the aquifer protective capacity of most parts of the study area is poor (83.3%), thus rendering the aquifer vulnerable to contamination.