Title: Delineation of groundwater vulnerability to pollution around dumpsites in Sapele, Nigeria

Authors: Ochuko Anomohanran; Bright Saturday Utieyin; Merrious Oviri Ofomola

Addresses: Department of Physics, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria ' Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract: Fifteen vertical electrical soundings and six dipole-dipole profiles were conducted to determine the subsurface structure and groundwater vulnerability to pollution around dumpsites in Sapele, Nigeria. The result of the study showed that the subsurface consist of four geo-electric layers composed of topsoil, lateritic sand, fine sand and medium to coarse grain sand. The third and fourth layers were identified as the aquifer layers located at a depth ranging from 4.5-10.0 m. The analysis of the results obtained for the various geo-electric layers revealed that the resistivity values of the aquifer layers below the two dumpsites are lower than those of the control. This fact when compared with the values of the physico-chemical study of the groundwater, showed that the aquifer under the dumpsite is already been impacted. This is due to the inability of the first and second layers to protect the underlying aquifers. It is suggested that the dumpsites be relocated with special attention to the groundwater flow direction to avoid continuous contamination of the groundwater.

Keywords: groundwater; vulnerability; dumpsites; geo-electric method; protective capacity; Sapele; Nigeria; vertical electrical sounding; dipole-dipole profile.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2021.116240

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2021 Vol.12 No.1, pp.59 - 76

Received: 01 Mar 2019
Accepted: 01 Feb 2020
Published online: 14 Jul 2021 *

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