Groundwater Exploration for Sustainable Water Supply Development in the Rural Communities of Imo State in the Imo River Basin, Nigeria.

Leonard I. Nwosu; Bright O. Nwosu

Volume : VII, Issue : I, January - 2017

Groundwater Exploration for Sustainable Water Supply Development in the Rural Communities of Imo State in the Imo River Basin, Nigeria.

Leonard I. Nwosu, Bright O. Nwosu

Abstract :

In a bid to address the water challenges of the rural communities of Ikeduru in Imo State, 20 vertical electrical soundings were done in the area using the Schlumberger array and maximum electrode spread of 700m. Five of the stations were sited near existing boreholes for correlation. The Allied Ohmega Ω earth resistance meter was used to acquire data which was analyzed using the Geosciences Incorporation 1D Software package. The hydraulic conductivity obtained ranges from 15.90m/day to 191.80m/day while transmissivity values are quite high and characteristic of Coastal Plain Sands. It ranges from 1093.2m²/day to 1097.1 m²/day. The study area was demarcated into three groundwater prospect zones. Zone A is prolific in groundwater yield. The mean aquifer resistivity and thickness are 4602Ωm and 33.74m respectively. The depth to aquifer ranges from 60m to 144m corresponding to the deeper aquifer. Zone B is the medium high yield zone and covers the rural communities of Umudim, Atta, Ngugo, Iho and Akabo. The average resistivity is 3981Ωm and the mean thickness is 22.35m. The aquifer is relatively shallow when compared to Zone A. Zone C (Low yield) covers communities in the central part of the study area. The average resistivity of the aquifer layers is relatively high with value of 5041Ωm. The mean aquifer thickness is the smallest with value of 7.21m. For sustainable water development in the study area, it is recommended that standard water wells be sited in zones A and B.