Influence of land reclamation on the status of groundwater in Borokiri area of Port Harcourt, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The increasing need for human habitation and rapid industrialization has necessitated extensive land reclamation in the choice area of Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This study was carried out to investigate the possible effect of land reclamation on the groundwater in the area. Soil resistivity  measurements were taken using the Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method, with a total electrode AB/2 of 350 m which covered a probe depth of about 150 m. The resulting resistivity data were iterated using a RES2DINV Computer Program. The results were used to map the quality potential of groundwater in the area. The results of the mapping process indicate that freshwater exists at shallow depths up to 33 m in the area. It was found that freshwater horizon is underlain by saline water up to about 133 m below ground surface. The depth at which freshwater occurs was found to be vulnerable to pollution from surface anthropogenic activities.

Keywords: Groundwater, land reclamation, resistivity, Nigeria