HYDROGEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS AND ITS ENVIRONS, PART OF MAKURDI (SHEET 251), NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
HYDROGEOLOGY AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS AND ITS ENVIRONS, PART OF MAKURDI (SHEET 251), NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
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Date
2014-04
Authors
AKUH, THADDEUS ITANYI
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Abstract
Hydrogeological studies of Makurdi metropolis and environs were carried out using geophysical and hydrogeochemical methods of investigation. The Makurdi Sandstone forms the aquifer unit studied. Analysis of pumping test data and petrological studies of this sandstone aquifer were used to estimate some of its characteristics. Three to four layers of rock were identified from the interpretation of six vertical electrical sounding (VES) curves. Interpreted curves include the H, Q and K types. The third layer which is the fractured Makurdi Sandstone is identified to be the most prolific for groundwater development. The thickness of this aquifer varies from about 5.5 m to 29.25 m and resistivity varies from 3.414 to about 400 Ώm. Interpretation of configuration of groundwater table and thickness of dry zone maps reveal that the River Benue is effluent all year round and constitutes the major discharge area within the study area. Groundwater mounds which are the major recharge areas within the study area were also identified. The chemistry of groundwater with respect to pH, Total dissolved solids, Fe3+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn+, NH3-, NO3-, Cl-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3- and SO42- was used to determine its suitability for drinking, domestic and irrigation purposes. The results show elevated concentration of Fe3+, Mn2+, NH3-, NO3 Mg2+and SO42 in groundwater within most part of the study area and is considered unsafe for drinking and domestic uses (Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), 2007). Water within the study area is of excellent quality for irrigation as regards its sodium adsorption ratio. However, high bicarbonate hazard and percentage sodium were observed in some areas making water from these areas unsafe for irrigation. Six water facies were identified using the Piper trilinear plot and these include the Mg – Na – HCO3, Mg-K-HCO3, K – HCO3 – SO42-, Mg-Ca-HCO3, Mg-HCO3 and Ca - Mg - HCO3 fields. The proportion of some of the measured groundwater chemical
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parameters also reveals the intrusion of formation water from the stagnant belt into the near surface aquifer. Correlation of the measured parameters shows positive correlation between TDS and Na+, Cl-, K+ and SO42- with correlation coefficients of 0.96, 0.90, 0.62 and 0.56 respectively. Positive correlation also exists between Cl – Na (0.90), K – Na (0.63), K – Cl (0.63), NO3 – NH3 (0.5), NO3 – Cl (0.92) and Na – Cl ( 0.90). This positive correlation indicates that the ions are derived from the same source. Analysis of pumping test data shows that transmissivity of the Makurdi Sandstone aquifer ranges from 1.144 x10-2 m2/day to 5.27 x 10-2 m2/day while storage coefficient and hydraulic conductivity ranges from 6.18 x10-3 to 1.27 x 10-2 and 5.20 × 10-4 to 3.20 × 10-2 m/day respectively. These values fall within the range of negligible to poor yield according to Gheorghe standards for transmissivity. Petrological studies also confirm this Sandstone aquifer to be a very indurated, well sorted, medium – coarse grained, texturally mature sub – arkose with only about 3 to 4% porosity.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN GEOLOGY (HYDROGEOLOGY) DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
HYDROGEOLOGY,, GROUNDWATER QUALITY,, MAKURDI METROPOLIS,, ENVIRONS,, PART,, MAKURDI,, (SHEET 251),, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA,