Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)
Study region: Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT; Nigeria). Study Focus: Rapid population growth has led to significant land use changes, with potential negative impacts on groundwater quality. However, the lack of understanding of hydrogeological settings, often due to limited data availability,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822001719 |
| _version_ | 1828750548811120640 |
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| author | Mary Etuk Stefano Viaroli Igwe Ogbonnaya Vivana Re |
| author_facet | Mary Etuk Stefano Viaroli Igwe Ogbonnaya Vivana Re |
| author_sort | Mary Etuk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT; Nigeria). Study Focus: Rapid population growth has led to significant land use changes, with potential negative impacts on groundwater quality. However, the lack of understanding of hydrogeological settings, often due to limited data availability, is one of the main obstacles to sound planning in rapidly changing environments. To assess the specific groundwater vulnerability to nitrate, a DRASTIC-LU model was applied, combining the land use data from the last 20 years with the intrinsic aquifer vulnerability. This study represents the first attempt to assess aquifer vulnerability in the region. New hydrogeological insights for the region: Results show that the Abuja FCT has been affected by a dramatic change in land use with an increase in urbanized and agricultural areas and may induce nitrate contamination in groundwater. Currently, several wells in the region are showing nitrate concentrations that exceed the statutory limit for drinking purposes. The comparison of DRASTIC-LU results with nitrate concentrations shows that the highest concentrations are found in urban/peri-urban areas. Although fertilizers are generally considered to be the main source of nitrate contamination, these results suggest a possible mixed (urban and agricultural) pollution origin. This investigation therefore represents a starting point for future nitrate monitoring assessments and for supporting decision makers with adequate information for urban planning in view of the expected population growth in the area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T20:39:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4eee1374d00b4ad9860d94eb58a6c686 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T20:39:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-4eee1374d00b4ad9860d94eb58a6c6862022-12-22T01:34:24ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182022-08-0142101158Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)Mary Etuk0Stefano Viaroli1Igwe Ogbonnaya2Vivana Re3Department of Earth Science, University of Nigeria, University Road Nsukka, NigeriaSciences Department, Roma Tre University, Largo S. L. Murialdo 1, 00146 Rome, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Earth Science, University of Nigeria, University Road Nsukka, NigeriaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, ItalyStudy region: Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT; Nigeria). Study Focus: Rapid population growth has led to significant land use changes, with potential negative impacts on groundwater quality. However, the lack of understanding of hydrogeological settings, often due to limited data availability, is one of the main obstacles to sound planning in rapidly changing environments. To assess the specific groundwater vulnerability to nitrate, a DRASTIC-LU model was applied, combining the land use data from the last 20 years with the intrinsic aquifer vulnerability. This study represents the first attempt to assess aquifer vulnerability in the region. New hydrogeological insights for the region: Results show that the Abuja FCT has been affected by a dramatic change in land use with an increase in urbanized and agricultural areas and may induce nitrate contamination in groundwater. Currently, several wells in the region are showing nitrate concentrations that exceed the statutory limit for drinking purposes. The comparison of DRASTIC-LU results with nitrate concentrations shows that the highest concentrations are found in urban/peri-urban areas. Although fertilizers are generally considered to be the main source of nitrate contamination, these results suggest a possible mixed (urban and agricultural) pollution origin. This investigation therefore represents a starting point for future nitrate monitoring assessments and for supporting decision makers with adequate information for urban planning in view of the expected population growth in the area.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822001719Abuja FCTGroundwater contaminationDRASTIC-LU modelLand use changesNitrate contamination |
| spellingShingle | Mary Etuk Stefano Viaroli Igwe Ogbonnaya Vivana Re Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Abuja FCT Groundwater contamination DRASTIC-LU model Land use changes Nitrate contamination |
| title | Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) |
| title_full | Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) |
| title_fullStr | Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) |
| title_short | Vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion: The case study of Abuja Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria) |
| title_sort | vulnerability mapping as a tool to foster groundwater protection in areas subject to rapid population expansion the case study of abuja federal capital territory nigeria |
| topic | Abuja FCT Groundwater contamination DRASTIC-LU model Land use changes Nitrate contamination |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822001719 |
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