GROUNDWATER OCCURRENCE IN DAMATURU AND ITS ENVIRONS YOBE STATE, NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA
GROUNDWATER OCCURRENCE IN DAMATURU AND ITS ENVIRONS YOBE STATE, NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA
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Date
2011-06
Authors
MUSA, KACHALLA
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Groundwater occurrence in Damaturu and its environs was studied from data of
boreholes and hand dug wells in Damaturu town and its surrounding villages of Sindiri,
Digmari, and Malmattari. Elevation of water level in hand dug wells and static water
levels of boreholes as well as wells coordinates were used to construct the
configuration of water table map. Groundwater level fluctuation in the water table
(phreatic) aquifer, direction of groundwater flow, cross-sectional view of the subsurface
geology/lithology were determined. Two major groundwater depressions were
established from the hydrogeological map, these was created due to over pumping of
the aquifers of Chad Formation in the area. also groundwater ridge created by the River
Damaturu and the large pond which subsequently changed the river regime from
effluent to influent was established from a cross-section. Groundwater within the
aquifers of Chad Formation is the singular source of fresh water in the study area. The
Chad Formation consists of aquifers that are shallow (water table aquifer) and deep
ones. Water levels measured reveal that water tables are shallower in areas with
elevation less than 368 m above sea level and in the fadama areas at the surrounding
village of Digmari. Groundwater flow is to the north-eastern direction. Negligible
seasonal variation in water levels less than 2 m show little recharge of aquifer. A total
of 15 water samples from boreholes, five water samples from hand dug wells and
surface water in the large pond located at the central part of the study area were
analyzed for their chemical contents. Major cations and anions analyzed both in hand
dug wells and boreholes includes sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and
magnesium (Mg),bicarbonate (HCO3), chloride (Cl) and sulphate (SO4).
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Aquifer characteristics in the study area using borehole pumping test data as evaluated
show that transmissivity (T) values of the aquifer from ten boreholes ranges from 4.1 x
10-1 m2/day to 45.0 x 10-3 m2/day with a mean value of 15.45 x 10-2 m2/day. These
values fall under moderate potentials as classified by Gheorghe standards. Hydraulic
conductivity (K) ranges between 1.4 x 10-1 m2/day to 9.3 x 10-3 m2/day with a mean
value of 5.07 x 10-3 m2/day, and the values show that the hydraulic conductivity of the
aquifer in the study area is good, going by Bouwers standards. The storage coefficient
(S) as calculated for the 10 boreholes ranges from 1.1 x 10-1 to 6.4 x 10-1 with an
average of 3.13 x 10-1, confirming good performance of the confined aquifer in the
study area.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA
NIGERIA
Keywords
GROUNDWATER,, OCCURRENCE,, DAMATURU,, ENVIRONS,, YOBE,, STATE,, NORTH,, EASTERN,, NIGERIA.