Integrated Geoscientific Techniques for Water Resource Potential: A Case Study of Felele Campus, Federal University Lokoja

Abstract

This paper presents the report of the investigation into a more suitable geoscientific tool for exploring and exploiting water resources on the Felele Campus of the Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria. The Felele Campus of the Federal University Lokoja surfers from inadequate water supply, thus requiring that water is harnessed from all available sources. Many water boreholes on the campus so far have either failed or yielded a low quantity of water due to the use of inappropriate tools for the geophysical survey.  Given this, an integrated geoscientific approach was adopted involving geologic mapping, geoelectrical and electromagnetic (VLF-EM) tools. Geological field mapping reveals that most of the rocks are more of banded and ferruginized iron stones, with sediments overlain by medium- fine-grained sandstones in other places. The results of the geoelectrical imaging show four subsurface sections characterized by variable resistivities and thicknesses. The results of the VLF-EM show low resistivity of 0.00 to 0.12 Ωm, very high resistivity values between 0.23 to 2.32 Ωm and several varieties of fractures at depths ranging from 30 m to approximately 300 m. The VLF-EM tool provides a clearer structural image and better evaluates the characteristics of the aquifers compared with the 1-D Schlumberger tool, leading to more reliable recommendations for borehole drilling. Therefore, integrating the very low-frequency electromagnetic tool with the conventional vertical electrical sounding method is a more robust technique, which leads to a reduction of risks and uncertainties associated with groundwater exploration and exploitation on the Felele Campus of the University.