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Geoelectrical and hydrochemical investigations were carried in order to determine the potentials
and quality of groundwater in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria. These methods were also
selected to determine their economy and accuracy compared to seismic method. Fifteen (15)
vertical electric sounding (VES) survey were conducted using the Schlumberger configuration in
order to evaluate the character of the aquifers in the studied locations while twelve (12)
groundwater samples were collected from boreholes for hydrochemical analysis. Geoelectric
sections derived from modelling of the VES data with the interpex IX1D software reveal 3 to 5
subsurface layers. The lithologic succession comprises of topsoil, lateritic clay, partially
weathered, weathered and fractured Asu River shale. The weathered and fractured layers
constituted the productive water bearing or aquiferous zones of good groundwater potentials.
Hydrochemical analysis of groundwater samples reveals that the pH range from 7.8 to 8.8,
electrical conductivity from 10.0 to 1754.00 μS/cm, total dissolved solid from 10.0 to 786.0 mg/l
and total hardness from 14.0 to 271.0 mg/l. The analytical results present the concentration of the
ions in the following order: Mg > Ca > Na > K and Cl > SO 4 >HCO3> NO3 > CO3. Piper trilinear
diagram reveals only one water type, with Ca and Cl as the major dominant ions. The major ions
concentrations are within recommended standard for drinking, hence the groundwater from the
area is suitable for drinking and domestic purposes.
Keywords: Electrical resistivity, Groundwater potential, Drinking purpose, Hydrochemical assessment, water quality
INTRODUCTION
Water is very vital in many aspects of human life. Its Mineralogical composition of the underlying rock (s), and
availability in the right quality and quantity is integral to the nature of the surface run-offs are factors that affect
supporting socio-economic development and vital quality of groundwater (Edet and Ekpo 2008; Amadi et al.,
ecosystems which depend upon it (Offodile, 2002; 2010). Olatunji et al., (2001) and Abimbola et al., (2002)
UNESCO, 2006). Despite it being limited in quantity in established that geology has a role to play in the chemistry
some parts of the earth, natural and anthropogenic of subsurface water. Vertical electrical sounding (VES)
activities are further threatening its availability and survey has been extensively employed in groundwater
suitability for multiple uses (Pietersen et al., 2009). Surface investigation across the world, both in basement and
water has suffered most from both anthropogenic and sedimentary terrains (Akaolisa, 2006; Tizro et al., 2010;
climate change (Zhang et al., 2010). As a result, Arabi et al., 2010). Odoh and Onwuemesi (2009),
groundwater has become a more important and characterizing the anisotropic properties of the fractures of
dependable alternative of water supply (MacDonald et al., the Abakaliki shales, showed that there is significant
2012). According to Morris et al. (2003) more than 2 billion anisotropy between 0 - 50 m depths, with fractures at
people rely on groundwater for their basic water needs, the depths of 28.3, 40 and 50 m striking NE - SW, NW - SE
study area not exempted with over 88 % of its population and N-S, respectively, and a better permeability and
depending on groundwater as source of water supply for
drinking and domestic purposes. Lack of potable water *Corresponding Author: Otosigbo Gloria Ogochukwu,
posed serious challenges in the area which has result to Department of Geology, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike,
waterborne disease outbreaks that has led to lose of life of Ikiwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. E-mail:
inhabitant early March, 2017 (MOH, 2017). gloriaotosigbo@gmail.com; Tel: +2348037137658
Geoelectrical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater for Potability in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria
Onwe et al. 238
porosity at the depth of 40 and 50 m. Odoh et al., (2012) 1986). The lead - zinc mineralization in the Abakaliki -
recommended an integrated geophysical approach in Benue Trough occur in the fractures. Study area is
investigating groundwater in the area in other to ensure associated with lead - zinc mineralization. The evidence of
greater percentage of success in interpretation of field igneous/volcanic activities in the Abakaliki area (southern
results, since the groundwater in Abakaliki shales occur in Benue Trough) is represented by various intrusive
fractures, faults and/or weathered zones deposits and volcanoclastics in the study area.
It is imperative to evaluate the potentials of the underlying Umeji (2000) has argued that the facture systems
formation and groundwater quality in the area as originated from movement resulting from the rising and
dependable source of water alternative to surface water. cooling of magma, which intruded the sediments during
The study therefore, aimed at evaluate the geophysical the Santonian epirogeny which created uplifts in the
and hydrochemical data, and to assess the quality of the Abakaliki and subsidence in both flanks of the Abakaliki
groundwater with a view to determine the potability. Anticlinorium which resulted in the formation of Anambra
and Afikpo Synclines. The high level of induration of the
Location, Geology and Hydrogeology shales, which has made some people use them for
construction works, have been interpreted as low grade
The study area consists of Ngbo, Ezzangbo and Izzi parts metamorphism (Obiora and Charan 2011).
of the present Ebonyi north of Ebonyi State, Southeastern
Nigeria. The area is accessible through Enugu – Abakaliki Hydrogeologically, the major part of the study area is
express road that lies between latitudes 6°301 N and 6°501 underlain by aquiclude; except in locations where
N, and longitudes 7°801 E and 8°001 E (Fig. 1). Geology of secondary aquiferous conditions were made possible by
the study area is predominantly shale facies of the syn and post depositional circumstances. The syn-
Abakaliki Shale (Agumanu 1989). The sediments have depositional circumstance is the occurrence of lenses of
been folded and fractured particularly following series of sandstone or siltstone beds, while the post depositional
tectonic episodes which have acted on them from the circumstances include weathering, fracturing or shearing,
Albian times; the fold axes stretch NW - SE (Benkhelil and volcanic intrusions.
Figure 1. Location and Geologic map of the study area (insert: maps of Nigeria and Ebonyi State)
Geoelectrical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater for Potability in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria
Int. J. Geol. Min. 239
The HA- type curve is a four layer model of the subsurface The analytical results for groundwater samples from study
and was observed in VES 2, 3 and 14. The first layer is the area are presented in Tables 3. Figure 4 shows a typical
topsoil, followed by a dry shale formation and the Piper trilinear plot of hydrochemical parameters of
weathered layer in that order. The weathered layer in these groundwater samples. Results indicated that temperature
sequences is very favourable for groundwater abstraction. varied from 27.00 to 29.00 0C with a mean value of 28.50
Another curve type is KHK curve and it was observed only 0C. Electrical conductivity observed to vary from 10.0 to
in VES 4. The curve type is characterized by a steady 1754.00 μS/cm with an average value 712.5 μS/cm. The
decrease in resistivity value. This curve type does not value indicates that the borehole is in contact with more
guarantee the possibility of abstracting water in substantial dissolved inorganic constituents. The pH value varied from
quantity from the VES point were the weathered layer is a 7.8 to 8.8 with an average of 8.33, this suggests that the
clayey formation which is an aquitard. groundwater quality is alkaline in nature.
Geoelectrical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater for Potability in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria
Int. J. Geol. Min. 241
Ionic relationship was assessed to check the salinity and concentration range while the slope was positive in the low
origin of the groundwater in the area. Ionic relationship (<500 mg/l) TDS concentration range indicating that
assesses include: Na/Cl, Mg/Ca, Cl/HCO3, and the groundwater with high TDS concentration was enriched
Cationic Exchange Value (CEV = [Cl - (Na + K)]/Cl). The with chloride and groundwater with low TDS concentration
molar ratio of Na/Cl ranges from 0.0241 to 0.3292, with was not. The variations of Ca/Na and Mg/Ca ratios with
mean value of 0.0723. All the samples have Na/Cl molar TDS (Figs. 5 and 6) showed a similar trend and were
ratio less than 1, which indicates that ion exchange is the subsequently subject to a similar interpretation opposite to
major process. The Mg/Ca ratio ranges from 0.2857 to plot of HCO3/Cl versus TDS. The shallow borehole of the
8.6190, with mean value of 3.4359. All boreholes except area was characterized by relatively low salinity and weak
BH7 and BH11 are generally greater than 2, indicating the concentrations of chloride compared to the deep borehole
transformation of fresh groundwater to saline in locations water.
of the study area. The Cl/HCO3 values range from 8.028
to 30.769. Values of this hydrogeochemical index given for Information generated from the hydrochemical analysis of
inland waters are between 0.1 and 5 and for seawater the different groundwater samples were plotted on a Piper
between 20 and 50 (Custodio, 1987). In general, the CEV trilinear diagram (Fig. 4). The Piper diagram has been
for seawater ranges from +1.2 to +1.3 (Custodio, 1983), described as the most appropriate diagram for
where low-salt inland waters give values close to zero, interpretation of composite of groundwater parameters
either positive or negative. The CEV values for (Freeze and Cherry 1979; Hounslow 1995). The dominant
groundwater of the study area are generally below 1.0 ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, HCO-3, Cl-, SO2-4 and NO-3) were
(Table 5), ranging from 0.66 - 0.98, indicating that the plotted. The results show Ca-Cl type with Ca and Cl as the
groundwater is inland in some locations with respect to major dominant ion. CaCl2 water type indicates water
provenance. mixing; mixing of the initial CaHCO3 with saline water and
it denotes water of paramount hardness.
The plot of HCO3/Cl versus TDS (Fig. 4) showed that the
regression slope was negative in the high (>500 mg/l) TDS
Geoelectrical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater for Potability in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria
Int. J. Geol. Min. 243
Geoelectrical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater for Potability in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria
Onwe et al. 244
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Geoelectrical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater for Potability in Ebonyi North, Southeastern Nigeria