Integrated Assessment of Groundwater Sustainability in a Semi-Arid Confined Aquifer: A Modelling and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Suitability Study of the Zinder Aquifer, Niger
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.220Keywords:
Aquifer, pumping, conductivity, transmissivity, confinedAbstract
The history of estimating aquifer properties is intertwined with the evolution of hydrogeology and the growing recognition of the vital role groundwater plays in sustaining human societies. This study combines pumping test data interpreted using the Cooper-Jacob and Theis methods to estimate the hydraulic characteristics of a constrained aquifer in the Zinder region of Niger. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of two traditional analytical techniques for aquifer characterisation, as well as to comprehend the regional variability of important physical parameters, such as transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity. Using aquifer test software, parameters were determined for each of the 22 wells that were examined. The findings reveal notable variation in transmissivity values ranging from 2.08 to 141.36 m²/day and hydraulic conductivity, which ranges from 0.0321 to 2.28 m/day. Low values correlated with clay-rich lithologies, while high values were typically linked to wells that penetrated conglomerate and coarse sandstone layers. Although the Cooper-Jacob approach provided more variation in storativity values, it consistently yielded higher estimates of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity than the Theis method. The significance of method selection in hydrogeological research is emphasised by this comparison analysis, especially for limited aquifers in semi-arid locations. The study offers important insights into aquifer behaviour by combining geological data with pumping test analysis. These discoveries have implications for future model calibration in comparable situations and sustainable groundwater management.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sani Yakubu Khalifa, Mohammed Aliyu Aliyu (Author)
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