Research Paper
Abstract
A Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Method was employed to determine the groundwater potential of Orisunmibare
Village in the neighbourhood of federal government college, Ilorin. The purpose of this study was to determine the
feasibility of a portable water borehole in the study area. Presently, there is no municipal water supply in the study area and
the water source is from individual hand dug wells. A total of nine VES were carried out in different parts of the study area
with DDR1 resistivity meter equipped with an SAS 2000 booster by means of Schlumberger electrode array configuration.
The interpretation of the VES curve was carried out by partial curve matching method to obtain initial model parameters
and computer iterations using WinResist Software. The curves reveal that the area is characterized by five classes of geo-
electric layers. First, highly resistive topsoil layer has a thickness between 0.2-1.0 m. The second lateritic clay layer
has thickness ranges from 3.3-15.0 m. Third layer is highly weathered basement with thickness of 6.0-30.7 m. The fourth
fractured with weathered rock layer has thickness from 20.0-40.2 m, and fresh basement representing
fifth layer has a thickness from 20 m and above. The results indicate the occurrence of good aquifers in the
first, second, third, fourth, and fifth VES stations in the form of the weathered and fractured basement. Results also
indicate that borehole drilling in the study area is achievable but to a depth of 45 meters to allow large reservoir within the
aquifers.
Keywords: Vertical Electrical Soundings, DDR1 Resistivity Meter, Schlumberger Array, Visual Curve Inspection Win
Resist Software
1. Introduction
Water is one of the most valuable natural resources vital to Irrespective of its importance, a global paucity of safe
the existence of any form of life. An adequate supply of drinking water had been established (UN, 2002; UNEP,
safe water for maintaining ecosystem that supports all life 2002; WHO and UNICEF, 2004). Specifically UN (2002)
and for achieving sustainable development (Topfer, 1998). reports that 1.1 billion people, representing 18% of the
As mans standard of living increase so does his need for worlds population, lack access to drinking water. The
consumption of water. However, the use of water has average amount of water used domestically each day by
grown rapidly in modern times. Though, a significant every person is about 190 litres (Hamill & Bell, 1986).
portion of water resources have become unusable due to
industrial and agricultural pollution. Diversions or transfer The use of geophysics for both groundwater resource
of watershed to other region have led to many ecological mapping and for water quality, evaluations has increased
and human disasters (Gleick et al, 2002). dramatically over the years. The Vertical Electrical
Soundings (VES) has proved very popular with sources as an effective management tool in the planning of
groundwater studies due to simplicity of the technique. a reliable water supply scheme (Okurumeh & Oteze,
Groundwater has become immensely important for human 1996).
water supply in urban and rural areas in developed and
developing nations alike (Omosuyi, 2010). Presently, there Investigation involving detail geophysical study for
is no municipal water supply in this area of study and the groundwater potential in the area covered by this study is
main source of water supply is from individual hand dug presently non-existent. This exigency inspired this study.
wells. However, the ground water conditions of this area Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to
when properly understood could be used as an effective determine the groundwater potential and to identify
tool in the planning of a reliable water borehole for people suitable sites for exploitation of groundwater through
in the study area either through the state government, drilling of boreholes in Orisunmibare Village in the
federal government, local government or private neighbourhood of federal government college, Ilorin.
individuals.
2. Geology and Hydrogeology of Study Area
The sounding points are located between latitudes 08o
31.224 and 08o 31.360 and longitudes 4o 29.142 and 4o
29.607 in the neighbourhood of federal government 2.1. Physiography and Climate
college Ilorin (Figure 1). Although, many geological and
hydrogeological investigations have been carried out by The study area is in the intermediate zone between semi-
various scholars in most parts of Ilorin. Olasehinde arid in the north and sub-humid climate in the south, hence
(1999a) worked on preliminary results of characterized by two distinct seasons, that is the wet
hydrogeochemical investigations in Ilorin area i.e. South- season start in late March and ends in the mid of October,
Western Nigeria. Garba (1999) worked on the while cold and dry weather due to influence of Harmattan
hydrogeological implications of the perched aquifer is observed in the month of December and January. The
system of Ilorin. vegetation is basically Savannah (Guinea) interspersed
with tropical forest remnants (Esan, 1999).
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The ground water conditions in an area when properly The rainfall is moderate with general annual average of
understood could be used conjunctively with surface about 1,250 mm with maximum rainfall occurring in the
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