Influence of Selected Soil Properties on Groundwater Flow around Ariaria Dumpsite, Aba, Southeast, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on the analysis of soil and groundwater characteristics due to municipal waste is indispensable to the sustenance of the environment and human health. This study is to evaluate the “Influence of selected Soil properties on groundwater flow around Ariaria dumpsite, Aba Southeast, Nigeria using Particle Size Analysis and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) configurationˮ. The sieve analysis shows that the soil samples collected consist of 11.95% of Silt, 83.62% of Sand and 4.42% of little Gravel. The mean permeability of the study area ranges from 0.19 (cm/sec) to 0.49 (cm/sec), the mean infiltration rate ranges from 6840mm/hr to 31320mm/hr. The Longitudinal conductance and Transmissivity values range from 0.0060 to 0.0284Ω^-1 and 3.8165 to 16.8589²/day. The values of longitudinal conductance and transmissivity indicates that the aquifer has poor protection capacity rating and its classification of well is from very low potential to low potential. The soil samples of the study area are well sorted and the movement of leachate from the dumpsite into the subsurface is very fast because the Permeability (K) is good, Coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and Coefficient of curvature classified the soil samples collected from the area as well graded soil. From the geophysical survey (VES) results, the groundwater depths (upper and lower aquifers) within the study area ranges from 30m (98ft) to 60m (197ft) at average depth of 45m(147ft). The curve types are AHA, HKA and AKA. The SWL of the study area ranges from 12m to 19m deep. The recommend drill depth to groundwater of is 50m (164) for domestic and consumption purpose.