Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Groundwater is a primary source of fresh water in this tropical region. There has been a growing demand for fresh water for various purposes, such as domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. In order to meet the demand, the delineation of potential groundwater zones is essential. Electrical resistivity method is particularly suitable for groundwater studies because soil physical properties such as moisture content and grain size characteristic can be correlated to resistivity values. The resistivity technique is essentially concerned with the measurement of electrical resistivity of subsurface materials, which preferentially provides information on the different geological layers, structures and the associated occurrence of groundwater. A 2-D electrical resistivity imaging method was employed in this survey work where three (3) resistivity lines were laid. The results of resistivity survey were presented in images showing the subsurface profiles under the survey lines. The result had been interpreted to describe the subsurface based on resistivity values recorded. From this resistivity results the possible aquifer and potential tube well location were successfully identified. Hence by obtaining this result predrilling is avoidable. As a consequence the time and cost were saved due to the unnecessary mobilisation and operation of bulky site investigation machinery. Soil samples from locations of borehole drilling were collected for soil characterisation. The results from geotechnical laboratory tests strongly indicated the groundwater aquifer moisture content and grain size characters.