Volume 59, Issue 328, April 2023

Geo-electrical mapping of contaminant plume in some open dumpsites using electrical resistivity tomography in Maiduguri metropolis, Northeastern Nigeria

Shuwa ZA, Kamale HI^♦, Ibrahim Y

Department of Geology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Geology, University of Maiduguri Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Groundwater has been the main source of water for domestic and other uses, these uses are under threat as a result of anthropogenic activities that is poor waste disposal practice. Contamination of groundwater under and near waste disposal sites happens as a result of infiltration of contaminants through the soil. Pollutants are aqueous liquid called leachate. Leachates are formed when rain falls on dump, sinks into the waste and picks up contaminants as it seeps downwards. Some wastes dumped at the dumpsite over the years are expected to have biodegraded and generated leachate which could have become a point source of pollutant into the soil and groundwater. 2D resistivity imaging survey (tomography survey) was used in the 8 dumpsites to map out the leachate plumes. Three zones of varying resistivity contrast were delineated, the zone of low resistivity interpreted as leachate plumes and decaying waste materials, the zone of moderate resistivity interpreted as sand and clay and high resistivity zone representing dry sand.

Keywords: Geo-electric, Dumpsite, Leachate, Tomography, Resistivity, contaminant

Discovery, 2023, 59, e45d1049

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Published: April 2023