GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL AND FLOW PATTERN USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY DATA IN UTURU, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract: This study is aimed at evaluating the groundwater potential and flow pattern in Uturu using the electrical resistivity data gotten from the Electrical resistivity method. The VES results showed that the first three VES locations have six layers, while VES-4 has five layers. VES-1 and VES-3 have the same QHA curve, while VES-2 and VES-4 have KHA and KQQ curve types respectively. The geoelectric unit curves and the adopted lithological borehole log show that the lithology of the shallow seated layers is characterized by thin loamy/lumus to laterietic topsoil, clay, sandy clay and medium grained sand, while the aquiferous zones are characterized by coarse grained sands. The aquifer layers of VES-1, VES-2 and VES-4 are sandy clay and are not good potable water zones. The VES-3 was found to have very good groundwater potential with a resistivity range of 41.8 m to 2525 m, aquifer thickness range of 0.605m to 37.2m and a better deep-seated layer of depth range, 0.607m to72.8m located in a coarse-grained sand. The flow pattern of the groundwater in VES-3 was found to lie in the Northeastern to Southwestern direction. This is because the geoelectric section of this VES point lies across the Northeast to Southeast. It is recommended that any borehole to be sited in this study area should be drilled beyond the 72.8m of the VES-3 to get to the white grained coarse sand (good and potable water aquiferous zone) located within the depth of about 93 to 111m.

Keywords: Groundwater; Resistivity; Flow Pattern; Aquiferous Zone.