Abstract

The following form the focus of the research work: Determine the physical parameters like conductivity, color, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature, chemical and biological parameters. Using static water level, cation exchange capacity, organic contents, nitrate and chloride to evaluate the vulnerability of the aquifers in the study area. Eighty-eight water samples were collected from 22 locations across the periods of dry (January), dry-wet (March), wet (June), wet-dry (September), to highlight the influence of micro-climatic conditions between January to September 2015 on groundwater vulnerability. In this study, the relationship between various elements has been studied using correlation analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis and vulnerability index (using the Static water level, Cation Exchange Capacity, Organic Contents, Nitrate and Chloride). Vulnerability index reveals that intrusive and Eze-Aku Formation are more vulnerable than Asu-River Group. The data also show that the aquifer in the study area are not vulnerable to nitrate, organic content and CEC but are rather vulnerable to fecal coliform due to water from runoff that infiltrates into the aquifer from the vadose zone during precipitation in the area.

Keywords:

Cross river state, groundwater, Mamfe embayment, Nigeria, vulnerability index (SCONC),

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.