International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

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Application of Electrical Resistivity in Ground

Water Detection – A Case Study
Ganesh Prasanna S 1, Rabinandan J 2
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, JNNCE, Shivamogga

ABSTRACT

Electrical resistivity of the soil is considered as a proxy for the spatial and temporal variability for other soil physical
properties (i.e. structure, water content, or fluid composition). Because the method is non-destructive and very sensitive, it
becomes an important application for describing the subsurface properties of the soil and the rocks without digging.

The importance of groundwater cannot be over - emphasized. For this reason, the exploration for water is a vital aspect in
Geophysics. The technique is employed together with drilling, for determination of resistivity value of both - the alluvium and the
groundwater. The study will be conducted in areas which have a geology record of thick alluvium. The results show that
groundwater will lower the resistivity value and silt also will bring down the resistivity value lower than groundwater.
Groundwater reservoirs are found in saturated sand, saturated sandy clay and saturated silt, clay and sand.

The resistivity method of surveying was carried out for the delineation of ground water aquifers NES in vicinity of
JNNCE, Navule, Shivamogga city, Karnataka, India. Data’s were acquired using the Schlumberger electrode arrangements. The
vertical electrical sounding was also performed to obtain readings for resistance of the and the apparent resistivities.

Keywords: Electrical Resistivity, Ground water exploration, Geophysics.

INTRODUCTION
Electrical resistivity surveys are usually very useful and convenient while exploring for groundwater and in the
exploration of minerals. It provides information about the subsurface nature when potential measurements are taken at the surface.

The electrical resistivity method is used as a tool for geophysical exploration, and is based on the fact that the underlying
rock materials can impose resistance to the flow of current and as such ohm’s law could be applied to them if the earth is
homogenous, the resistivity measured is called true resistivity otherwise, the term apparent resistivity is used and this is a
weighted average of the resistivity’s of the various formation.

The usual practice in resistivity survey is to introduce current into the ground by means of two current electrodes and a
potential drop is measured through a second pair of potential electrodes. The flow of current within the earth is affected by
subsurface formation and hence the distribution of electric potential.

Conduction of electricity in the ground occurs through the interstitial water present in the rock and contains some
dissolved salts invariably. Low resistivity usually indicates the presence of water (clay) in the formation, this is therefore as
important as water salinity in establishing the true resistivity of a medium.

Data of groundwater potential zone, groundwater direction and velocity is very important data, that on should possess if
there is any chance to build a radioactive waste repository facility. Before a repository facility built in that area, the groundwater
contamination study has to be done in order to get the groundwater contamination plumes direction and to identify the
groundwater monitoring area.

ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY
In the electrical resistivity method, the electrical resistance is determined by applying an electric current (I) to metal
stakes (outer electrodes- a.c. type) driven into the ground and measuring the apparent potential difference (V) between two inner
electrodes (non-polarisingd.c. type) buried or driven into the ground shows the electrodes arrangement for electrical resistivity
method.

Changing the spacing of electrodes changes the depth of penetration of the current and the apparent electrical resistivity
pa obtained at different depths by measuring the resistance

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
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Vol. 12 Issue 07, July-2023

R= V/I, apparent resistivity is plotted on a semi-log or log-log paper against depth (Field curves). By proper
interpretation of the resistivity data from the field curves obtained and matching them with standard curves (Mooney and Wetzel,
master curves), it is possible to identify the water bearing formations and accordingly and limit the depth of well drilling.

There are two common systems of electrode arrangements:

Wenner Electrode arrangement system and Schlumberger Electrode arrangement system

WENNER ELECTRODE SYSTEM:

In this system, the electrodes are space at equal distances, a, Fig. and the apparent resistivity ρa for a measured resistance
is given by,ρ a = 2 π аR

The field curve is plotted on a semi-log paper “ρa versus a”, ρa being in ohms-meter in logarithmic scale and a in meter
in arithmetic scale.

SCHLUMBERGER ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT SYSTEM: In this system, the distance between the two inner
potential electrodes is kept constant for some time and the distance between the current electrodes is varied. The apparent
resistivity ρa for a measured resistance is given by

Where,
ρa =Apparent resistivity in Ohm meter
V = Voltage
I = Current in ampere
A,B = Current electrode
M,N = Potential electrode
Resistivity values of common rocks and soil materials

Material Resistivity (Ohm)

Alluvium 10-800
Sand 60-1000

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Clay 1-100

Groundwater 10-100

Sandstone 8-4x103
Shale 20-2x103
Limestone 50-4x103
Granite 5000-1000000

Graph of apparent resistivity vs distance.

Apparent-resistivity curves are often plotted on logarithmic paper and compared with type curves (normalized theoretical
curves) for interpreting the resistivity, thickness, and depth of subsurface layers.

Logρa – apparent resistivity

ρa (max) - resistivity maximum

ρa (min) - resistivity minimum

Aim and objectives: The main aim of the present study is to delineate the ground water potentiality of the area by
locating the suitable aquifers present in NES layout near JNNCE College, Shivamogga, with the following Objectives:

➢ To determine the soil resistivity of the area.

➢ To determine the ground water potential zones in the area.
➢ To determine the type of soil and its influence on groundwater characteristics.
STUDY AREA

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Location 13.967174°N ,75.582156° E

Total area 3 sq.km
Area Madhuvana Colony A-Block,
NES layout
District Shivamogga
Pin code 577204

RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS

The results obtained are plotted in the graph. Most of the values obtained are well within 500 Ohm – m. But only in 1
stretch the value has gone beyond 700 ohm m. The area is mainly composed of rocks from late ArcheanShimoga schist belt like -
Granite Migmatites and Granodioritic to Tonolitic gneisses, Amphibolitesand Peliticschist’s.The area is mainly composed
ofclayey soil and in some areas gravel can also be noted. The values and the corresponding graph are tabulated below.

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Vol. 12 Issue 07, July-2023

STRETCH-1

STRETCH-2

STRETCH-3

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STRETCH-4

STRETCH-5

STRETCH-6

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STRETCH-7

STRETCH-8

STRETCH-9

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STRETCH-10

STRETCH-11

STRETCH-12

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STRETCH-13

CONCLUSION

Electrical resistivityis an important method for soil characterization. Contrary to classical soil science measurements and
observations which perturb the soil by random or byregular drilling and sampling, electrical resistivity is non-destructive, and can
provide continuousmeasurements over a large range of scales. In this way, temporal variables such as water and plant nutrient,
depending on the internal soil structure, are monitored and quantified withoutaltering the soil structure. The applications are
numerous: (i) determination of soil horizonand specific heterogeneities, (ii) follow-up of the transport phenomena, (iii) monitoring
of solute plume contamination in a saline or waste context. It enables the improvement of our understanding of the soil structure
and it’s functioning in varying fields such as agronomy, pedology, geology, archaeology and civil engineering. Concerning
agronomy, applications are present in precision farming surveys. Nevertheless, electrical measurements do not give a direct access
to soil characteristics that interest the agronomist. Preliminary laboratory calibration and qualitative or quantitative data (i.e. after
inversion) interpretations have to be done to link the electrical resistivity measurements with the soil characteristics and function.

From the current study we can conclude that the electrical resistivity method was used for the detection of soil
characteristics and delineation of potential areas for ground water in the area. Geologically the area is mainly composed of rocks
from late ArcheanShimogaschist belt like -Granite Migmatites and Granodioritic to Tonolitic gneisses, Amphibolites and
Peliticschist’s.The soil in the area is mainly composed ofsand and gravel with silt as it is noted from the observed resistivity
values. From the above survey, the level of Ground Water is found to be very deep and the Ground Water seems to be in the form
of Confined and Perched Aquifer. Further drilling in the area may lead to more insight on the level and occurrence of ground
water.

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