Groundwater Exploration in Part of Maikunkele, Minna, North-Central Nigeria Using Vertical Electrical Sounding

Abstract

Maikunkele, a suburb of Minna, Niger State (Nigeria) usually experiences shortage of potable water supply especially in dry seasons. This results from decrease in productivity of existing boreholes and hand-dug wells during the season. It could also be attributed to increase in demand due to population increase the area is witnessing as a result of several government establishments located in the area and the fact that the area provide a cheaper accommodation for people (including those that work at the Minna city centre). It is in view of the above that groundwater exploration was carried out to determine the groundwater potential of the area. a total of 48 Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) using Schlumberger Array was adopted for the study. VES results were interpreted with the aid of IX1D software. The result obtained show some area have three geoelectric layers while others have four geoelectric layers. Over 80 percent of VES results indicated good potential for groundwater development. The results show that the southern part of Maikunkele has higher groundwater potential compared with the northern portion. The aquifer system of the southern portion consists of thick overburden, weathered basement and fractured basement. Recommended drilling depth should be at least 60 m. Although the overburden in the northern part is thinner when compared with the southern part, it also has good potential for groundwater development as the results of VES in the area show that the aquifer system comprises of weathered basement and fractures in some places. The drilling depth for the northern portion should not be less than 80 meters except for VES 14 where 30 - 40 m is recommended.