Investigation Of Aquifer Protective Capacity Using Electrical Resistivity Method In Federal University Otuoke Campus, Ogbia Lga Of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The ability of the overburden material to protect the shallow aquifer of the Federal University Otuoke in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State was investigated using Electrical Method. Ten (10) Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) stations were occupied across the study area using Schlumberger configuration. The data obtained was modelled using IP2WIN resistivity software to obtain first order geo-electric parameters—layer thickness and resistivity. Information from the first order parameters was used to numerically determine the Total Longitudinal Conductance, which is a second-order geo-electric parameter. Results of the Total Longitudinal Conductance computed were then used to classify the rating of the Aquifer Protective Capacity of the overburden material across the study area into excellent, very good, good, moderate, weak, and poor. Results revealed that locations occupied by VES stations 1, 2, and 3 had an Aquifer Protective Capacity rating classified as poor, which implied that the shallow aquifer in this area is vulnerable or prone to contaminants infiltrating through the overburden material from surface sources. VES station 4 had a moderate APC rating, which implied that the overburden material in this area will slow down but not totally impede the infiltration of surface contaminants. VES stations 4 to 10 all showed good APC rating, implying non-vulnerability of the shallow aquifer in this sampled area to infiltration by surface contaminants and pollutants.