Journal Article

Geophysical Investigation of Groundwater at the Proposed Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching Hospital Site, Lapai, Northcentral Nigeria

Abstract

Two-dimensional electrical resistivity imaging (ERT) as well as the vertical electrical sounding (VES) were integrated in order to investigate the groundwater prospects at the proposed Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching Hospital Lapai, north central Nigeria. Three 2D imaging stations and nine VES points (3 points on each 2D station) were occupied in the study. The 2D imaging technique was used to determine the vertical and horizontal changes in resistivity within the layers as well as depth to basement while the VES was used to determine the fracture depth and thickness. The results revealed three subsurface layers which were interpreted as the top soil and lateritic clay, weathered basement and fresh/fractured basement rock. The groundwater prospects increase towards the northern part of the study area with apparent resistivity values of the weathered basement ranging between 4.55Ωm – 11.7Ωm along the third profile. The VES curves showed fractures between 25m and 45m with fracture occurrences more predominant in VES 6 – 9 which falls on the third 2D imaging line. Water well drilling is recommended in the northern part of the proposed teaching hospital site at depths between 60m to 80m.

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