VULNERABILITY OF GROUND WATER USING GOD METHOD

Groundwater serves as a critical resource globally, but its sustainability is severely threatened by contamination from anthropogenic sources and natural factors. This project addresses the urgent need for a systematic assessment of groundwater susceptibility to pollution. The primary objective was to evaluate and apply Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment (GWVA) methods to identify areas at high risk of contamination and propose effective mitigation strategies. This research employed the GOD (Groundwater occurrence, Overlying lithology, Depth to water table) methodology using GIS-based spatial analysis to assess groundwater vulnerability in the Orerokpe River area, located at the intersection of Okpe, Ughelli North, and Uvwie Local Government Areas in Delta State, Nigeria. The assessment integrated three critical hydro-geological parameters to identify zones with varying degrees of natural protection against contamination. Each factor is assigned a standardized rating, which is then multiplied to generate a comprehensive GOD index (ranging from 0 to 1.0), quantifying the aquifer's inherent vulnerability. The project's methodology would involve: collecting and integrating relevant geological and hydro-geological data within a Geographical Information System (GIS) framework to produce a definitive vulnerability map for the study area. This map would delineate zones into varying degrees of susceptibility (e.g., negligible, low, moderate, high, and extreme). The findings of this research confirm the GOD method's utility as a robust planning tool, particularly in data-scarce regions. The resulting vulnerability map is designed to be a crucial resource for policymakers, guiding targeted risk mitigation strategies such as restrictive land-use zoning, implementation of best management practices (BMPs), and strategic placement of monitoring wells, thereby ensuring the long-term protection and sustainable management of vita\l groundwater resources.