Estimation of Aquifer Transmissivity Using Dar Zarrouk Parameters at Ogbozara-Ekwegbe-Agu and the Environ, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the hydrologic properties of the aquifer materials at Ogbozara-Opi/Ekwegbe-Agu and environs by the estimation of the aquifer transmissivity using Dar Zarrouk parameters. The study area lies in the Anambra basin and is underlain, from bottom to top, by 3 prominent geologic formations; Enugu Formation, Mamu Formation and Ajali Formation respectively. A total of 19 sounding stations were occupied within the study area using the Ohmega resistivity meter. The VES data were interpreted using the conventional partial curve matching technique to obtain initial model parameters which were later used as input data for computer iterative modelling using the Interpex software. These analyses were further combined with information from two existing boreholes in the study area to estimate aquifer hydraulic parameters using Dar-Zarrouk parameters. The layer parameters thus obtained revealed that the dominant curve type obtained from the different formations is the AK curve type followed by the HK curve type. An average of 6 geo-electric layers were delineated across all transect taken with resistivity values ranging from 25.42 - 105.85 Ω m, 186.38 - 3383.3 Ω m and 2992.3 - 6286.4 Ω m in the Enugu, Mamu and Ajali Formations respectively. Results of the study revealed the aquifer resistivity in the study area ranges from 1 - 500 Ω m. The depth to the water table range from 13 - 208 m with a mean value of 76.05, while aquifer thickness varies between 95 and 140 m with a mean value of 102.89 m. The values of the Dar-Zarrouk parameters revealed that the transverse resistance varies between − 10,000 - 170,000 Ω m 2 , while the longitudinal conductance varies from 0.1 - 1 to 1.9 Ω - 1. Similarly, the hydraulic conductivity in the area ranges from 5 to 50 m/day, while the transmissivity values range from 1000 to 14,000 m 2 /day.