Application of Electrical Resistivity and Geochemical to Monitor Soil and Groundwater Pollution at Tifinmadza, Mokwa Town, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and physicochemical analysis techniques were carried out at TifinmadzaMokwa to investigate the degree and impact of the waste dumpsite on the quality status of soil and groundwater. Thirty Vertical Electrical Sounding points were investigated. The schlumberger array with a maximum electrode spread of 150 m was employed in all the points. Results from the sounding data indicated that the area was generally underlain by three to four geoelectric layers which included top soil, Clay Sandstone, Weathered basement, and Fresh basement. Based on the result obtained, the fractured and the weathered basement constituted the aquifer zones within the study area. Both the unsaturated overburden and the aquifer zones were characterised by dominant low resistivity anomaly associated to the delineated leachate plumes which implied very poor soil and groundwater quality. The results from both soil and groundwater analysis also revealed contamination by Lead, Chromium and Cadmium with concentration exceeding the Canadian Soil Quality Guideline (CSQG), World Health Organization(WHO) and Standards Organization of Nigeria(SON) regulated guidelines. This implied a very strong correlation with the VES results and thus a very clear showcase of the dumpsite impact on both the soil and groundwater quality status. Therefore, the poor quality status of both the soil and the groundwater had made it unviable for farming activities, human consumption and other domestic uses.