TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Page(s)
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
1.4 Significance of Study
1.5 Scope of the Study
CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Conceptual Framework
2.2.1 Groundwater
2.2.2 Occurrence of Groundwater
2.2.3 Aquifer
2.2.4 Aquitard
2.2.5 Unconfined and Confined Aquifers
2.2.6 Aquifer Properties
2.3 Geographic Information System
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2.1 Location and Size
3.2.2 Climate
3.2.3 Vegetation
3.2.4 Soils
3.2.5 Geology
3.3 Study area
3.4 Sampling collection
3.5 Data scrutiny
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
4.1 Results and discussion
4.1.1 Groundwater physicochemical parameters
4.1.2 Physicochemical parameters connection
4.1.3 Principal component scrutiny of groundwater attribute parameters
4.1.4 Geospatial dissimilarity of water attribute
4.1.5 Hydro-chemical attributes
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendation
REFERENCES
ABSTRACT
Groundwater contamination ensuing from poor effluent management and anthropogenic effects is rising in Nigeria. Thus, groundwater utilized for drinking and domestic purposes is becoming extremely scarce and so demands scientific analysis. Scrutiny of hydrochemical interfaces and attribute of groundwater resource is needed so as to ascertain and monitor sources of water contaminants. Due to this, groundwater samplings were obtained from 25 sites in Abuja Nigeria then examined for physicochemical parameters by means of standard techniques. Results acquired were compared with WHO standards as well as subjected to geospatial and hydrochemical analyses. Five principal components which described 82.4% of the disparity in water attribute, were extricated with the PC1 (30.5%) and PC2 (19.67%) representing the anthropogenic effects, influence of mineral suspension, and contamination chemical fertilizers correspondingly, on the hydrochemistry of the region. The extreme level of significant correlation was found to subsist between EC and K + ( r = 0.770, α= 0.05). Groundwater in Abuja displayed a high level of spatial discrepancy and majority of the ions, such as Na + , TDS, SO 4 2 −, and Alk, recorded the highest values close to the municipal center. To strengthen the clarification of these geospatial plots, Hierarchical cluster scrutiny was utilized and produced four (4) hydrochemical clusters of the study region Clusters 3 and 4 showed the worst violations of water attribute criteria with percentage violation of 50 and 40% correspondingly. The increasing order of water attribute was Cluster 1 > Cluster 2 > Cluster 4 > Cluster 3. The Schoeller diagram shows the comparative propensity of ions in mg/L which indications Mg > Na > Ca and SO4 > Cl > HCO3. Fur- ther analysis revealed that water in the box 1 as carbonated group which symbolizes a water rich in Ca-HCO 3 , thus revitalizing. At large, the groundwater of the Abuja locality was contaminated by agricultural deeds, ion exchange, and human-induced actions.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Water is one of the most indispensable resource – life is not possible on this planet without it. Recent research conducted by Yisa and Jimoh (2011) showed that there was an increase in the demand for freshwater due to rapid growth of population as well as the accelerated pace of industrialization in the last few decades in Nigeria. This demand has led to the use of ground water not only for its wide spread occurrence and availability but also for its constituent good quality which makes it ideal for drinking. The supply of fresh water to Nigerians has been inadequate and this has forced the inhabitants to resort to drinking water from wells (Sander, 2017). Groundwater has long been considered as one of the purest forms of water available in nature and meets the overall demand for rural and semi-rural people (Tyagi, Buddhi, Chaudhary and Sawhney, 2012).
Despite the considerable investment of governments in Nigeria over the years in provision of water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes, a large part of the population still does not have access to water of adequate quantity and quality. It is estimated that only 58%of the inhabitants of the urban and semi urban areas of Nigeria and 39% of rural areas have access to potable water supply (Federal Ministry of Water Resources, 2020).
The ever increasing demand for water, especially for domestic purpose, has led to widespread and very intensive search of water in all parts of Nigeria. Most rural communities in the FCT depend largely on groundwater through wells and boreholes for their water needs, since most surface sources are heavily polluted and expensive to develop (Olaniyan, Agunwamba, and Ademiluyi, 2011).
The present failure rates of boreholes, variability of yields, maintenance problems of borehole and open wells in basement aquifers, frequent breakdown of pumps, especially the hand pumps, point to the need for greater understanding of the hydro geological principles involved in the exploration and exploitation of the basement aquifer through borehole design and completion (Wright, 2016). It has been observed that these aquifers are particularly of importance in tropical and sub-tropical regions not only because of the widespread extent and accessibility, but there is often no readily available alternative source of water supply, particular for the rural population(Wright, 2012).
Geophysical methods used to delineate groundwater potential zones include Geotechnical, Hydro geological, Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), (Adiat etal., 2012).
In FCT – Abuja, groundwater exploration is gaining greater attention due to increasing demand for water supply, especially in areas with inadequate pipe-borne and surface water. The drying up of some of the hand dug wells in the area worsens the problem. The problem is becoming progressively acute with growing population. As a result of inadequate supply of pipe burned water and drying of wells during dry season, these communities rely on self-water supply source such as unprotected wells, river, canal, and spring which play host to many diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, and infectious hepatitis, and as such, the people are vulnerable to these disease. There is therefore, need to explore the groundwater in order to meet the water demand of the people. Thus, this study focuses on the use of Geographic Information System techniques in investigating groundwater potential sites in FCT, Abuja.
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
In Nigeria as well as many other African countries, the provision of water for the teeming population is usually stated as one of the cardinal objectives of Government.
Pandian and Kumanan (2013) identified the groundwater potential zones using remote sensing and GIS in part of Trichy and Karur district, Tamilnadu, India. The authors prepared thematic maps like lineament, geomorphology, land use and land cover, lithology and soil map and managing the GIS layers in Geo-database and assigning weightages based on the correlative factors that appear to be important in holding / processing of recharge of water and ground water potential content.
Abubakar and Auwal (2012) used over forty Vertical Electrical Sounding survey to investigate groundwater potential of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano state Nigeria. Results from the sounding data indicates that the area is generally underlain by five geoelectric or geologic section which include Lateritic top soil or Lateritic sand, Silty sand or Sandy clay, Weathered basement or Clay sand, fractured basement and fresh basement. Based on their results the fractured and the weathered basement make the aquiferous zone within the study area. The resistivities of the zones varies from 7.3 to 772 m with an average value of 178 m, while the thickness varies from a value of 1.66 to 28 m with an average value of 14.33 m. Depth to this zone varies from 5 to 31 m with an average value of 16 m. This series of studies provided adequate information about the groundwater occurrence of their study areas. This information will guide groundwater development in these areas.
It is a known fact that there is scarcity of water in FCT. Data on ground water in the study area is inadequate and there is no known study that investigated the ground water potential of the study area. These are gaps which this research intends to fill. This study therefore, focuses on the use of GIS and remote sensing in assessing groundwater potential in the FCT – Abuja.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study is to apply geospatial technique in assessing ground water potential zones in FCT, Abuja. The specific objectives are to:
- Examine the characteristics of the ground water potential zones in the study area.
- Identify the ground water prospect zones of the study area.
- Determine the areal coverage of the ground water potential.
- Validate the GIS and Remote Sensing result using vertical electrical sounding (VES) data of the study area.
1.4 Significance of Study
It is very important to know the groundwater potential of an area before embarking on any further exploration, as this will provide information on the water potential of the area, which in turn will prevent sudden dry up of boreholes during dry season and prevent minimal yield and supply from the boreholes.
Water scarcity in FCT, Abuja warrants a detailed investigation of the groundwater potential characteristics of the area so that an exploration guide as well as sustainable groundwater management strategy can be developed.
The study will serve as a guide to the Government, and Non-Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders involved in water exploration.
1.5 Scope of the Study
This study was carried out for the entire FCT, Abuja. The study applied Geographic Information system technique in investigating ground water potentials zone in FCT, Abuja. The factors considered for the study include geology, drainage, rainfall, lineament, land-use/land-cover, slope/topography and soil as they are the major factors that contribute to the presence of ground water in an area.
GROUND WATER AVAILABILITY USING GIS IN FCT ABUJA
