Comparative study of total dissolved solids evaluated from resistivity sounding, water analysis and log data

Abstract

Combined methods of evaluating Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from electrical resistivity sounding, water analysis and single point resistance logs were used in this study. Twelve (12) resistivity soundings, (8) eight water samples were collected and (1) one well was logged near sounding locations. The results showed that TDS in groundwater (depth > 30m) from resistivity sounding, water analysis and single - point resistance log varied from 21.2 to 183.4 ppm, 11.6 to 108.4 ppm and 8.6 to 81 ppm respectively. The result indicates that the three methods give nearly similar TDS values. Comparison of TDS levels evaluated by resistivity sounding and water analysis showed that there was a significant positive relationship (R² = 0.91). Thus from this study in the absence of water analysis, estimates of TDS values in groundwater can be made from resistivity sounding data.