Groundwater Occurrence and Development in the Daura Area of Katsina State, Extreme Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater resources of the Cretaceous Gundumi Formation and the underlying crystalline basement rocks have always been the source of water supply in Daura. Records of thirty-one boreholes drilled in the area between 1959 and 1996 were reviewed to deduce the hydrogeology of the area. The lithology of the study area obtained from strata logs and geophysical survey comprises decomposed crystalline rocks overlain by basal conglomerate, loosely cemented gravely sandstone, ferruginous sandstone and clay horizons, capped in places by laterite or silty fine sands. The area is divided into the northern and southern wellfields with average thicknesses of the Gundumi Formation of 50 m and 35 m, respectively. The average yield of the productive boreholes is 4.1 lps. The aquifer of the Gundumi Formation in the Daura area has low to moderate groundwater potential. However, the low capacities of the production boreholes are adequate to sustain the domestic water requirements of the population. Borehole site selection should be based on geophysical investigation, while the drilling rig should be capable of both rotary and downhole-hammer drilling. The borehole completion materials should be resistant to corrosion because of the low pH of the groundwater. The quality of the groundwater is generally suitable for domestic uses, though aeration or lime treatment may be necessary in some cases because of the slightly acidic nature of the groundwater.