Aquifer Vulnerability Index: A Method for Groundwater Protection Studies at Uvwiamuge, Western Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Abstract

One major environmental hazard causing serious social problem in oil producing communities in Niger Delta is oil spills. This is as a result of the numerous petroleum related installations. T he the aquifer via pathways along which contaminants flow from the surface to th deterioration of water quality in shallow and vulnerable aquife rs spills contaminate e aquifer causing . Electrical resistivity investigation of the SombreiroWarri Deltaic Plain deposits of the Niger Delta was carried out with the aim of providing valuable information on the subsurface geoelectric layers protective capacity of overburden units above the aquifers , hydrog eologic system of the aquifers and . Fifteen vertical elect acquired. Four geoelectric layers which includes topsoil, clay/sandy clay/c rical sounding (VES) were layey sand/sand and sand delineated were ; with the third and fourth layers constituting the aquifer unit. The thickness of the layers overlying the aquifer and their typical estimates of hydraulic conductivities were used to evaluate the aquifer vulnerabil ity index for study area. each VES station which was used to characterize the vulnerability of the The result showed that 33% of the area has low vulnerability, 60% moderate vulnerability and 7% high vulnerability to groundwater contamination

1. Abstract

1.1 Introduction

2. Geology and Hydrogeology of th study area

3. Methodology

3.1 Vertical Electrical Soundings

3.2 Aquifer Vulnerability Index

4. Result and Discussion

4.1 Aquifer Delineation

4.2 Aquifer Vulnerability of the area

5. Conclusion and Recommendation