HYDROGEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF SHEET 78 (FUNTUA SE) NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA
HYDROGEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF SHEET 78 (FUNTUA SE) NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA
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Date
2014-09
Authors
ODACHI, ONAJI HELEN
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Abstract
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality Assessment of Sheet 78, (Funtua SE) was undertaken using combined geological, hydrogeological and geophysical methods. This study area is in the topographic Sheet 78, (Funtua SE). Rocks mapped in the study area include migmatite gneiss, granite gneiss, granite, schist, quartzite and phyllite. Aquifers identified include the weathered basement rocks and fractured rocks through which groundwater is transmitted.From the geophysical data analyzed, 4 to 6 geo-electric layers have been found in the area with the aquifer located within the weathered to fractured basement rock of the study area. Aquifer characteristics in the study areashow that transmissivity (T) values of the aquifer range from 0.47 to 18.89 m2/day with a mean value of 9.68 m2/day. Hydraulic conductivity (K) ranges between 0.31 and 5.21 m/day with a mean value of 2.76 m/day. The values of Transmissivity and the hydraulic conductivity show that the aquifer in the study area is good. The specific capacity (S) as calculated for the 20 boreholes ranges from 4.28 m3/m/day to 105.48 m3/m/day with an average of 54m3/m/day, confirming good performance of the aquifer in the study area. Measured values of groundwater elevation above sea level (asl) were used to construct the groundwater configuration map for the study area from which the groundwater level fluctuation in the (phreatic) aquifer and direction of groundwater flow were determined. For the end of raining season,the maximum groundwater table elevation was 2293 ft (699m) asl and the minimum was 1896ft (578m) asl, At the peak of the dry season, coinciding with the period of minimum water level in wells, the maximum and minimum water table elevations were 2290ft (698m) asl and 1923ft (586m) asl respectively. The mean groundwater table elevation based on 143 wells was 2093ft (638m) while the mean water table elevation based on 111 wells was 2106ft (642m) for dry season. A total of 10 water samples from hand dug wells (6); boreholes (3) and river (1) in the study area were taken and analyzed for their major ions concentrations. The major ions analyzed include Sodium (Na+) with concentration ranging from 0.66 to 28.04gmg/l, Potassium (K+) with concentration ranging from 0.23 to 16.83mg/l, Calcium (Ca2+) with concentration ranging from 8.0 to 59.28mg/l, Magnesium (Mg2+) with concentration ranging from 7.24 to 15.48mg/l, Bicarbonate (HCO3-) with concentration ranging from 444.4 to 668.8mg/l, Chloride (Cl-) with concentration ranging from 21.30 to 85.1mg/l, Nitrate (NO32-) with concentration ranging from 2.2 to 12.8mg/l and Sulphate (SO42-) with concentration ranging from 4.3 to 75mg/l. The major and minor elements concentrations are mostly within the limit of WHO guideline and Nigeria standard for drinking water (NSDW). The results show that the groundwater in the study area is potable and suitable for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA.
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCEIN GEOLOGY (HYDROGEOLOGY)
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA – NIGERIA
Keywords
HYDROGEOLOGY, GROUNDWATER, SHEET 78 (FUNTUA SE), NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA