DETERMINATION OF GROUNDWATER FLOW DIRECTION IN IYUKU

ABSTRACT

Ground water direction plays a pivotal role in the management of groundwater resources. This study was carried out in Iyuku community, Estako west Local Government Area of Edo state using the global positioning system (GPS) and dip meter to determine the groundwater flow pattern of the area. The longitudes, latitudes and elevations of 5 locations evenly distributed within the community were measured and recorded. The depths to the water level in the hand-dug wells were measured directly with the aid of a meter tape. A water table contour map of the entire study area was generated with respect to the variation in static water level from which the major and minor flow directions were delineated. The result showed that groundwater flow direction in Iyuku community is from northwest to southeast. The implication of the Northwest - Southeast pattern of flow is that groundwater resources situated southward are faced with existential threat of migrating contaminants that could be derived from excessive land use such as rock quarrying, indiscriminate waste dumps, leakage of underground petroleum facilities. It is therefore recommended that dumpsites, quarrying operations and other land use practice be sited against direction of groundwater flow as this will minimize incidence of contamination.