POTENTIAL AND LEVEL DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF GROUNDWATER IN PARTS OF OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Electrical resistivity data acquired in thirty (30) locations using vertical electrical sounding
method of Schlumberger configuration have been used to study the hydrogeological properties
and groundwater storage potential of aquifers in some parts of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local
Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, to identify productive aquifer zones for citing
boreholes for community water supply. The data acquired were processed and interpreted using
auxiliary curve matching and computer automated method to delineate the different geo-electric
layers, their resistivities, thicknesses, and depths. The hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity,
storativity, and groundwater level (SWL) were estimated, measured and plotted in 2D maps to
describe the spatial variations of these parameters in the study area. The estimated aquifer
thickness ranges from 17 m to 102.5 m with an average value of 62.6 m. The values of the
hydraulic conductivity range from 1061.6 m/day to 3895.3m/day with an average value of
2408.94 m/day, the estimated transmissivity ranges from 18047.2 m2/day to 401220.2 m2/day
with an average value of 163823.3 m2/day, while the estimated storativity values range from
2.20 x 10-5 to 1.34 x 10-4 with an average value of 8.10 x 10-5. The water level range from 5 to
10.7 m with an average value of 6.96 m. A joint evaluation of the hydraulic conductivity,
transmissivity, and storativity suggests that the aquifers in the western, southern, eastern, and
northern parts of the study area have the highest potentials for groundwater in terms of
borehole yield, aquifer recharge, and storage potential. High values of groundwater static level
were recorded in the central and eastern parts of the study area suggesting areas with high
topography and elevation which could be less susceptible to vulnerability contamination