Investigation and Evaluation of Aquiferous Zones Within Orlu and Its Environs, Using a Geo-electrical and Physiochemical Approach

Abstract

This study investigated the suitability of drinking water in Orlu, Nigeria, facing challenges due to limited surface water availability and environmental deterioration. To solve the problem of the availability of portable water, electrical resistivity surveys using Schlumberger array were conducted to identify potential groundwater resources. Twelve locations were assessed, revealing resistivity values indicative of potential aquifers. Following the geophysical survey, the physicochemical properties of water samples collected from various locations were analyzed. Parameters including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), and minerals were evaluated against WHO and Nigerian drinking water standards. The analysis indicated generally good water quality across the sampling sites. pH levels were within the recommended range, and DO concentrations met the minimum requirements. Similarly, TDS and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values suggested low levels of organic matter and dissolved solids. Mineral content also remained below WHO-permissible limits. A Water Quality Index further confirmed that the water quality within the study area can be graded from good to excellent in quality. These findings suggest that the groundwater resources identified in the study hold promise for providing safe drinking water in Orlu and its environs. Received: 3 January 2024 | Revised: 29 April 2024 | Accepted: 24 May 2024 Conflicts of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. Data Availability Statement Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Statement Chukwuebuka Nnamdi Onwubuariri: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration. Chidimma Onyinye Ikeme: Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - original draft, Supervision. Joseph Ugochukwu: Software, Formal analysis, Data curation. Chidiebere Charles Agoha: Software, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing - review & editing. Joshua Udoka Ugwu: Validation. Lawson Jack Osaki: Validation, Resources, Writing - review & editing. Tochukwu I. Mgbeojedo: Investigation, Resources, Writing - review & editing.