Geophysical Evaluation of Cemetries for Groundwater Contamination in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/Keywords:
Groundwater Contamination, Leachate, Resistivity, CemeteryAbstract
The increasing reliance on shallow groundwater sources in Dutsinma, Katsina State, has raised concerns about contamination risks from nearby cemeteries. This study applied 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) to investigate groundwater contamination around Dutsinma cemeteries. A total of six survey profiles were established using the dipole dipole electrode configuration with 5 m interelectrode spacing covering a total spread length of 200 m. ABEM SAS4000 terrameter was used for this survey, and inversion was performed using RES2DINV software to produce 2D resistivity models of the subsurface. All 2D resistivity models showed resistivity varying from 9.99 Ωm to 4226.0 Ωm to a maximum depth of about 21.5 m, interpreted as leachate plumes originating from the decomposition of buried remains. Regions with resistivity values < 20 Ωm suggest regions contaminated with leachate. These conductive anomalies extended beyond some of the cemetery boundary indicating lateral migration of contaminants controlled by the permeable weathered basement underlying the area. The findings demonstrates that 2D ERI is an effective, non-invasive geophysical tool for mapping cemetery-related leachate migration and assessing potential threats to shallow aquifers. The result revealed that the subsurface is composed of distinct lithological layers with the low resistivity values observed suggesting the presence of possibly contaminated materials influenced by decomposed remains and also provides valuable insights into the extent and possible pathways of contamination within the study area, which can support sustainable groundwater management and burial ground sighting in the study area.
References
Abaje, I. B., Sawa, B. A. & Ati, O. F. (2014). Climate Variability and Change, Impact and Adaptation Strategies in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria Journal of Geography and Geology, 6(2), 103-112.
Aisha, A. K., Abdulsamiu, M. I. & Ahmad, A. K. (2022). Hydrogeochemical Assessment of Groundwater around Gauta, Central Nigeria. Journal of Earth and Environmental Science Research, 4(2), 1-8
Binley, A. M., & Kemna, A. (2005). DC resistivity and induced polarization methods. Water Science and Technology Library, Springer. (50 ed., pp. 129–156).
Cassiani, G., Bruno, V., Villa, A., Fusi, N., & Binley, A. M. (2006). A saline tracer test monitored via time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 59(3), 244–259.
Foster, S. S. D., & Hirata, R. (1988). Background on groundwater quality risks from anthropogenic activities and burials. WHO- PAHO/HPE-CEPIS Technical Manual, Lima.
Freeze, R. A., & Cherry, J. A. (1979). Groundwater. Prentice Hall.
Hassan, M., Abdulrahman, A., & Bala, A. (2020). Assessment of groundwater contamination using geophysical methods in northern Nigeria. Environmental Earth Sciences, 79(12), 1–14.
Jonker, L. P., & Olivier, J. (2012). Research on toxic compounds in coffins and long-term groundwater contamination. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 9(2), 511-520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9020511
Katz, S. A., & Salem, H. (2005). Study on the leaching of toxic metallic ornaments and preservatives into groundwater. Journal of Applied Toxicology. 25(1), 1-7. https://doi.org.10.1002/jat.1005
Dent, B.B., Forbes, S.L. & Stuart, B.H. (2004). Review of human decomposition processes in soil. Env Geol 45(1), 576–585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0913-z
Loke, M. H. (2004). Tutorial: 2-D and 3-D electrical imaging surveys. Geotomo Software.
Loke, M. H., Acworth, I. & Dahlin, T. (2003). A Comparison of Smooth and Blocky Inversion Methods in 2-D Electrical Imaging Surveys. Exploration Geophysics, 34(3), 182-187
Martin, C. (2022). Research on high-resolution spatial datasets provided by ERI for subsurface characterization.
Ocheri, M. I., Odoma, L. A. & Umar. N. D. (2014). Groundwater Quality in Nigerian Urban Areas: A Review. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, 14(3), 23-34
Oloso, A. O., Adeoye, O. A., & Akinyemi, O. D. (2018). Assessment of groundwater pollution from cemetery leachates in Osun State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Protection, 9(4), 388–397. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2018.94025
Rubin, Y. & Hubbard, S. S. (2006). Hydrogeophysics, Water Science and Technology Library, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, Springer, 50: pp.523
Rodrigues, L., & Pacheco, A. (2003). Documentation of decomposing human remains as sources of organic and inorganic contaminants. 68(6):1352-1356. https://doi:10.37358/RC.17.6.5673
Rupanjana, D., & Deep, R. (2025). Sources, distribution, and impacts of emerging contaminants – a critical review on contamination of landfill leachate. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2), 100602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100602
Spongberg, A. L., & Becks, P. M. (2000). Study on inorganic and organic contaminants in cemetery soil and groundwater. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 117, 313–327. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005186919370
Vaezihir, A., & Mohammadi, K. (2016). Research on elevated fluoride and sulphate levels linked to burial activities in Iran. Environmental forensic, 17 (2), 172-182. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15275922.2016.1163621
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ubaidullah Ahmad, Abubakar Abdullahi Hamza, Usman Abdulwahab, Anwaru Atiku, Tajuddeen Batsari Yusuf, Idris Usman Aminu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
