Groundwater resources of Nanka Sands aquifers around Nanka-Oko Area, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Investigations were carried out for groundwater potentials and hydro-geochemical characteristics of the Nanka-Oko area, southeastern, Nigeria. The area is underlain by the Nanka Sands Formation. Data from 14 vertical electrical soundings (VES) were interpreted using IPI2win software. A total of 16 groundwater samples, were also analyzed for their physiochemical and biological properties with the aim of assessing their characteristics and quality for domestic and agricultural purposes. Based on the computed aquifer parameter (transmissivity), two groundwater potentials zones (very high and high) were defined. Only SO^2-₄ among the major ions shows a pronounced difference in concentrations from the two aquifer horizon types. The geochemical data also reveal that the groundwater from the area is not generally suitable for domestic but adequate for irrigation purposes.

Keywords: Aquifer type; groundwater potentials; hydrochemical characteristics; Nanka Sands