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Parametric characterization, protectivity and potentiality of shallow hydrogeological units of a medium-sized housing estate, Shelter Afrique, Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria

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Abstract

Geoelectrical resistivity technology (GRT) constrained by geological information was used to map the hydrokinetic properties, as well as the protectivity and potentiality of groundwater system in a medium-sized and sort after housing estate in Southern Nigeria. The GRT deployed involved Schlumberger 1-D vertical electrical resistivity sounding (VES) and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The primary and secondary geoelectric indices were used in tandem with existing geological information to estimate the hydrodynamic parameter maps of the shallowest aquifer unit, maximally exploited in the area for optimal management of the unconfined aquifer system beneath. Total porosity (0.282–0.691), specific yield (0.040–0.107), field capacity/specific retention (0.242–0.623) and storage-dependent drainability efficiency (SDE) (7.6–40.5%) were determined to depict the saturation dynamics in the study area. Results showed that the area has optimal release of pore water when the storage-dependent drainability efficiency is greater than 21%. The ensemble of potential index parameters such as transmissivity (57.4–4339.2 \(m^{2}\)/day), transverse resistance/aquifer potential scale (453.6–152,756.5 \(\Omega m^{2}\)), permeability (91.7–7269.7 mD) and hydraulic conductivity (57.4–4339.2 m/day) showed optimal potentiality but poor to moderate protectivity as evidenced by longitudinal conductance index (0.004–0.6218 Siemens). As many individuals have strong affinities to live in this fast, newly developed and competitive housing estate, it is a healthy practice that efficiently managed waste disposal arrangements/measures be put in place in order to ward off the exposure of leachates and other organic/inorganic wastes from permeating/draining into the already naturally vulnerable underlying hydrogeological units, where groundwater extracted for diverse use is stored.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the reviewers and the editor whose comments have reformed the manuscript for enhanced contextual improvement. The authors are indebted to their colleagues in Geophysics Research Group (GRG) of Akwa Ibom State University for their assistance during the field data acquisition and editing of the manuscript. We equally thank TETfund who sponsored the first author through staff development of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.

Funding

The project was funded by the TETfund through staff development of the first author, a staff from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.

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  1. Department of Physics (Geophysics Research Group), Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpat Enin, PMB 1162, Uyo, Nigeria

    Kufre Richard Ekanem, Nyakno Jimmy George & Aniekan Martin Ekanem

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  1. Kufre Richard Ekanem
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Correspondence to Nyakno Jimmy George.

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Edited by Dr. Michael Nones (CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF).

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Ekanem, K.R., George, N.J. & Ekanem, A.M. Parametric characterization, protectivity and potentiality of shallow hydrogeological units of a medium-sized housing estate, Shelter Afrique, Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. Acta Geophys. 70, 879–895 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-022-00737-3

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