title: Geoelectric Evaluation of Aquifer Potential and Vulnerability of Northern Paiko, Niger State, Nigeria.
abstract: This study was carried out using vertical electrical sounding (VES) to evaluate the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capacity of Northern Paiko. Sixty vertical electrical soundings were obtained across the study area using Schlumberger electrode configuration. Three to four geoelectric layers were delineated from the interpreted results. The stratigraphy of the subsurface shows: topsoil (62.8-3082 Ωm), weathered layer (15.2-80 368 Ωm), fractured layer (191-236 672 Ωm), and the fresh basement (79.9-308 865 Ωm). The weathered layer was delineated as the major aquiferous horizon. From the results, the resistivity, thickness, and longitudinal conductance maps were drawn. It was observed that groundwater potential is low in about 76.7% of the study area. This study has also shown that the aquifer protective capacity of most parts of the study area is poor (83.3%), thus rendering the aquifer vulnerable to contamination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Obiora
authors.forename: Usman D
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Alhassan
authors.forename: Johnson C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ibuot
authors.forename: Francisca N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Okeke
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical