Groundwater Investigation Using Geoelectrical Method: A Case Study of the Western Region of Cameroon

Abstract

A geoelectrical survey using the electrical resistivity method was carried out in some villages in the western region of Cameroon to investigate the sub-surface layers and evaluate the characteristics of aquifers. The direct current electrical resistivity method was utilized for the present study. Applying the Schlumberger array, a total of twenty four (24) Ver- tical Electrical Soundings (VES) were conducted. Quantitative and qualitative interpretations of data were carried out to determine the nature and thickness of the aquifer zone combined with existing litho-logs aided correlation of geoelectric sections to litho-logs. Four to five geoelectric layers were delineated from the survey area. The first layer which is the topsoil has resistivity values ranging from 6 - 949 Ωm and the thickness is between 0.2 - 4.2 m. The second layer which is made up of clay and laterite has resistivity values ranging between 9 - 1862 Ωm and thickness range from 1.0 - 16.4 m. The third and fourth geoelectric layers are made up of clay and granite/basalts with thickness varying from 2.2 - 39.5 m which corresponds to an aquifer horizon. Resistivity values of the aquifer ranges from 10 to 70,506 Ωm. The resistiv- ity map drawn from these measurements shows the presence of a low resistivity zone which indicates the reflection in the direction of ground water from northeast to southwest with the recharge concentrated to the south of the study area. This study has revealed for this area, an average depth of the aquifer of 32 m with the average thickness of the aquifer being 22 m. The geoelectric sections of some VES stations demarcated corroborate very well with the geological de- scription of the area.