Geophysical survey, geochemical and microbiological investigation of ground and well water in Ado-Ekiti North-East, South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Geophysical survey for ground water chemical measurements and microbiological examination of hand-dug well water have been carried out in Ado-Ekiti northeast and presented here. Geophysical (Vertical Electrical Sounding, VES) survey of stations VES-1 and VES –2 indicates that the area of study shows an irregular weathering front. Possible aquifer zone in the area is a lateritic clayey or fracture zone which vary from 6.5m in VES-1 to about 47m at VES-2. The weathered clayey zone at VES-2 extends to about 60m. This makes VES-2 station a potential high yielding source of groundwater in the study area. Fifteen well water samples from five hand-dug wells were analysed for HCO₃-, Cl^-, SO₄²-, SiO₂, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The concentrations of these ions and molecule in the well water analysed when compared with their corresponding standard values of World Health Organisation (WHO) reveal that the well water in Ado-Ekiti northeast is safe for human consumption. However, microbiological study carried out on the well water samples reveals presence of bacteria in the water. These can be removed by boiling and chlorination to make the well water potable.


KEY WORDS: aquifer; weathering front; presumptive; hardness; chlorination.


Global Journal of Geological Sciences Vol.2(2) 2004: 235-242