2D electrical resistivity imaging for delineation of crystalline basement aquifer in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Lack of access to potable and adequate water is a major problem for sustainable development in northern Ghana. Developing groundwater resource is the best option for safe, reliable, and cost-efficient water supplies to these dispersed communities. In this study, nine 2D ERI profiles were carried out with the Schlumberger array in eight communities underlain by the crystalline basement rocks in the Bole District of the Savannah Region of Ghana. The aim was to delineate the aquifer zones and select points for groundwater extraction. Nine boreholes were drilled from the selected points. The yield was found to vary from 12 to 180 l/min with a depth range of 50 to 70 m. The weathered and fractured zones together with the bedrock topography were clearly marked. It is evident that the 2D electrical resistivity technique is useful tool in determining the availability of groundwater in weathered and fractured crystalline environment.