Modeling of Groundwater Potential Using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Multi-caterial Analysis at Omitogun Housing Estate, Akure, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

A geoelectric investigation of groundwater prospect at Omitogun Estate, along Benin/Ilesha express way Akure, within the basement complex of southwestern Nigeria was carried out with a view to providing information on the geoelectric characteristic of the subsurface sequence, bedrock topography, subsurface structural features and their hydrogeologic significance, in order to identify aquifer units and determine possible areas for groundwater potential zones. The study involved the use of Schlumberger vertical electrical sounding data at thirty (30) stations. The vertical electrical sounding data presented as field curves were interpreted quantitatively by partial curve matching method and computer iteration technique. Fracture resistivity map, aquifer resistivity map, aquifer thickness map and overburden thickness map were generated from the results. Groundwater potential map was also generated from the integration of these maps using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The study area has been classified into low, medium, high groundwater potential zones and the results from well data across the entire study area were used to validate the accuracy of the groundwater potential map. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that the study area is generalized to be of low groundwater potential.