Investigation of groundwater flow direction using Geospatial technology: A case study in part of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

A geospatial technique was used in some parts of the Port Harcourt metropolis to establish the direction of groundwater movement. This method included the use of twelve carefully selected boreholes and a variety of cutting-edge tools, such as depth meters, handheld GPS, and measuring tape. The static water level in the boreholes and the ground surface elevation in relation to the average sea level of the region were two of the variables that were gathered. High-end software was used to analyze the data in order to create groundwater flow direction maps and 3D visualizations for displaying the whole research region based on the fluctuation in static water levels. This software included Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS 10.4, and ArcScene 10.4. Afterward, the main and minor flow directions were identified. The results showed that groundwater in the area moves from the north to the south, with group 4 having the largest hydraulic gradient and group 1 coming in second. On the other hand, groups 3 and 2 had the lowest hydraulic gradient. The main factors influencing groundwater flow were determined to be gravity and external pressure brought on by pumping. The research region's southern regions are more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, which may result from zones with higher hydraulic heads, according to the flow pattern in the aquifer system. As a result, it is advised that residential boreholes and municipal water wells be located on the study area's northern sides, whereas sanitary landfills and garbage sites should only be located in the southwest.