Application of electrical resistivity method in groundwater potential assessment of Dass town and environs, Bauchi, Nigeria

Abstract

Twenty-six electrical resistivity soundings were conducted around Dass town and its 
immediate environs for groundwater potential assessment within the basement com
plex of Bauchi. A computer-aided interpretation of the vertical electrical sounding (VES) 
data enabled the identification of geoelectric layers/geologic units like topsoil, weathered 
basement, and bedrock which have hydrogeologic significance in groundwater develop
ment. Resistivity value range from 50 to 263 ohm/m, 32 to 137 ohm/m, and 75 to 311 
ohm/m in the topsoil, weathered layer, and bedrock, respectively. Layer thickness also 
varied from 0.1 to 4.28 m in the topsoil, 7 to 29 m in the weathered layer, and ≥33 m to 
infinity in the bedrock layer. The depth to bedrock (basement) ranged from 0.2 to 33 m 
across the study area. Based on the VES interpretation, geoelectric/lithological sections 
and isopach maps were modeled; these models assisted with the classification of ground
water zones into low, medium, and high potential areas. It is established from this study 
that zones with thickness overburden thickness within depressions have good groundwa
ter potential. Expectantly, the result of this study is meant to serve as a baseline to guide 
groundwater resources development in the study area.