Abstract
This paper presents result of 30 vertical electrical soundings carried out in Makurdi, Benue state capital, north–central Nigeria to evaluate aquifer protective capacity and soil corrosivity of overburden units in the study area. This was done using the Schlumberger electrode array to obtain the data and was modelled using computer iteration (Winresist software). The field data gives a resolution with 3–4 geoelectric layers and the observed frequencies in curve types include: 30% of KQ, 16.67% of QH, 6.67% of AA and K, 3.33% of HA, Q and A, 10% of H, KH and HK. Using the longitudinal unit conductance (S), the protective capacities of the study area were classified as 36.67% weak, 10% poor, 40% moderate, and 13.33% as good. The corrosivity ratings of the study area show that 10% is strongly corrosive, 23% moderately corrosive, 37% slightly corrosive, and 30% noncorrosive The results reasonably provide information on areas where industries can be sited and iron pipes can be laid in order to safeguard the hydrological setting for resident’s safety in the study area. Regions with moderate/good protective capacity are good sites for locating boreholes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abiola O, Enikanselu P A, and Oladapo M I 2009 Groundwater potential and aquifer protective capacity of overburden units in Ado-Ekiti, southwestern Nigeria; Int. J. Phys. Sci. 4 (3) 120–132.
Adeniji A E, Omonona O V, Obiora D N and Chukudebelu J U 2014 Evaluation of soil corrosivity and aquifer protective capacity using geo-electrical investigation in Bwari basement area; Abuja. J. Earth Syst. Sci. 123(3) 491–502.
Agunloye O 1984 Soil aggressivity along steel pipeline route at Ajaokuta, southwestern Nigeria; J. Mining Geol. 21 97–101.
Amadi A N, Ameh M I, and Jisa J 2010 The impact of dumpsites on groundwater quality in Makurdi Meteropolis, Benue State; Nat. Appl. Sci. J. 11 (1) 90–102.
Baeckmann WV and SchwenkW 1975 Handbook of cathodic protection: The theory and practice of electrochemical corrosion protection technique; Cambridge Press.
Barker R, Rao T V, and Thangarajan M 2001 Delineation of contaminant zone through electrical imaging technique; Curr. Sci. 81 (3) 277–283.
Benue State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency 2008 Unpublised Report.
British Geological Survey 2001 Sketch map of the geology of Benue State; Report on visit to aWater Aid project, Nigeria, to carry out workshops and assess geology of Benue State; Keyworth, Nottingham.
Chernicoff A E and Whitney I K 2009. An introduction to physical planning; Houghton Mifflin Company, New York.
Dahlin T 2001 The development of DC resistivity imaging techniques; Comput. Geosci. 27 (9) 1019–1029.
Dan-Hassan M A 2001 Determination of geo-electric sequences and aquifer units in part of the basement complex of north–central Nigeria; Water Resour. J. Nig. Asssoc. Hydrogeol. 12 45–49.
Edet A and Worden R H 2009 Monitoring of the physical parameters and evaluation of the chemical composition of river and groundwater in Calabar (southeastern Nigeria); Environ. Monit. Assess 213 (1–3) 243–258.
George N J, Nathaniel E U and Etuk S E 2014 Assessment of economical accessible groundwater reserve and its protective capacity in eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using electrical resistivity method; Int. J. Geophys. 7(3) 693–700.
Henriet J P 1976 Direct application of Dar Zarrouk parameters in groundwater survey; Geophys. Prospect. 24 344–353.
Ibuot J C, Akpabio G T, and George N J 2013 A survey of the repository of groundwater potential and distribution using geoelectrical resistivity method in Itu local government area (L.G.A), Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria; Cent. Eur. J. Geosci. 5 (4) 538–547.
Kalinski K J, Kelly W E, and Bogardi I 1993 Combined use of geoelectric sounding and profiling to quantify aquifer protection properties; Groundwater 31 (4) 538– 544.
Keswick B H, Wang D, and Gerba C P 1982 The use of micro-organisms as groundwater tracers – A review; Groundwater 20 (2) 142–149.
Kogbe A C 1989 Geology of Nigeria; Elizabethan Publishing Company, Lagos, Nigeria.
Makeig K S 1982 National buffers for sludge leachate stabilization of groundwater; Geophysics 20 (4) 420– 429.
Mogaji K A, Adiat K A N, and Oladapo M I 2007 Geoelectric investigation of the Dape Phase III Housing Estate F.C.T Abuja, north–central Nigeria; J. Earth Sci. 1 (2) 76– 84.
Offodile M E 1976 A review of the geology of the cretaceous of the Benue Valley; In: Geology of Nigeria (ed.) Kogbe C A, Elezabethan Publishing Company, Lagos, Nigeria, pp. 319–330.
Offodile M E 2002 Groundwater study and development in Nigeria; Mecon Services Ltd., Jos, Nigeria.
Oladapo M I, Mohammed M Z, Adeoye O O and Adetola O O 2004 Geoelectric investigation of the Ondo State Housing Corperation Estate; Ijapo, Akure, southwestern Nigeria; J. Mining Geol. 40(1) 41–48.
Omoyoloye N A, Oladapo M I, and Adeoye O O 2008 Engineering geophysical study of Adagbakuja Newtowndevelopment, southwestern Nigeria; J. Earth Sci. 2 (2) 55–63.
Orellana E and Mooney H 1966 Master tables and curves for VES over layered structures; Interciencia, Madrid, Spain.
Strahler A N 1973 Introduction to physical geography, 3rd; John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Ugbaja A N and Edet M O 2004 Groundwater pollution near shallow waste dumps in Southern Calabar, Nigeria; Global J. Sci. 2 (2) 199–206.
Yahaya N, Mat Din M, Noor M, and Husna S 2009 Prediction of CO2 corrosion growth in submarine pipelines; Malaysian J. Civil Eng. 21 (1) 69–81.
Zohdy A A R 1969 The use of Schlumberger and equatorial soundings in groundwater investigations near El Paso, Texas; Geophysics 34 713–728.
Zohdy A A R, Eaton G P, and Mabey D R 1974 Application of surface geophysics to groundwater investigations; United State Geophysical Survey , Washington.
Acknowledgements
Authors are grateful to Mr Victor Omonona, Dr J U Chukudebelu and Prof. F N Okeke (FAAS) for their wonderful contributions. They thank Subimal Ghosh, the Associate Editor and the reviewers for their meticulous fast review work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Obiora, D.N., Ajala, A.E. & Ibuot, J.C. Evaluation of aquifer protective capacity of overburden unit and soil corrosivity in Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria, using electrical resistivity method. J Earth Syst Sci 124, 125–135 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0522-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0522-0