HYDROGEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF AQUIFER PROTECTIVE CAPACITY, AROUND SAND MINE IN IDUNMOWINA, BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the aquifer protective capacity of overburden materials around Idumowina sand mine, Ovia north east local government, Edo State. Five (5) vertical electric sounding (VES) in Schlumberger electrode configuration was conducted in the study area using ABEM Terrameter. The maximum current electrode spacing was AB/2=400m. field data was interpreted using partial matching technique in the Sufer software. The results VES shows that the aquifer in the area was semi confined to confined. The geoelectric curve types generated were (HAK 40%), AHK (20%), AAK (20%), and AHA (20%). The values of Dar Zarouck parameters used for delineating aquifer protective capacity revealed that hydraulic conductivities ranged from 0.73-1.46, transmissivity ranged from 2.72-7.67m2/day, transverse resistance ranged from 26621-221682Ωm2 with an average value of 101199.81 Ωm2 , longitudinal conductance (S) ranged from 0.004-0.335 with an average value of 0.0752 Ω-1 . This study indicates that aquifer systems around the dumpsite are likely not to be protected from infiltrating leachates from the wastes. Increasingly the indiscriminate siting of dumpsites posed an existential threat to the quality of groundwater in the community