This document proposes research to determine the groundwater table in Hawa Galan catchment, Ethiopia using vertical electrical sounding (VES) methods. The study area has a population of over 123,000 people relying on groundwater sources like hand dug wells as there are no permanent surface water sources. Previous studies in the region focused on geology and igneous petrology but not groundwater. This research will involve collecting VES data along profiles and analyzing the results to map subsurface resistivity and identify potential high-yield aquifers and drilling locations to address the need for sustainable groundwater resources in the community. A detailed work plan and budget are provided outlining field work, data analysis, and reporting over an anticipated one year

1. DAMBI DOLLO UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCINCES
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
GROUNDWATER TABLE DETERMINATION USING
VERTICAL ELECTRICAL SOUNDING (VES) METHOD:
A CASE OF HAWA GALAN CATCHMENT, QELLEM
WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIYA REGION, ETHIOPIA
Research proposal submitted to postgraduate and research,
technology transfer coordinator and department of geology

2.  Next to air, the most critical natural resource for life on earth
is water.
 Our bodies need to ingest water every day to continue
functioning.
 communities and individuals can exist without many things
like shelter, even without food for a period, but they cannot
be deprived of water and survive for more than a few days,
because of the intimate relationship between water and life, it
plays a vital role in the development of community since
reliable supply of water is essential perquisite for the
establishment of a permanent community. About two third of
the total land space in the world is covered by water
(Shiklomanov, 1993).
 It is available in many forms such as ice caps, glaciers, ocean
water, surface water and ground water.

3.  Due to the above reasons, the search for ground water is vital
as an immediate and sustainable solution to alleviate the
scarcity of water for drinking and other domestic uses in
Ethiopia.
 Population growth and economically progress required
greater volumes of fresh water. According to the Central
Statistical Authority (Central Statistical Authority (CSA),
2013) population data projected for 2017, the district has a
total population of 123,957 of whom 114,985 are rural .
 Since there is no permanent river, stream or spring in the
catchment, hand dug wells and drilled bore holes are the only
sources of drinking water for the people to have permanent
settlement.
 Therefore, the detailed geophysical study for assessment of
groundwater potential is crucial.

4. 1.1. Statement of the problem
 The need for water is strongly ascending which is
not only important for domestic purpose but also
for the development activities both agricultural
and industrial sectors.
 Most of the area is known in high scarcity of
permanent river and spring.
 The daily consumption of water for domestic
purpose in Hawa Galan catchment is 320.3 m3;
but the available water from the groundwater
presently is 270.8m3.
 There for currently there is shortage of supply of
water for domestic purpose in the catchment.

5.  According to the Central Statistical Authority
(Central Statistical Authority (CSA), 2013)
population data projected for 2017, the district
has a total population of 123,957 of whom
114,985 are rural population.
 The major livelihoods of the population of the
district are increasing which mainly depend on
groundwater.

6. 1.3.1. General objectives of studies
 The general objective is to determine
groundwater table using vertical electrical
sounding (VES) method.

7.  To determine the resistivity distribution of
subsurface layers
 To identify geologically weak zones which serve
as a conduit for groundwater movement and to
map continuously lateral contacts/verticals that
may control the movement of groundwater.
 To identify the depth of the aquifer potential
zones and to locate potential drilling sites for
the extraction of groundwater.
 It contributes some data set for the ongoing
study of exploration of groundwater in the area.

8.  The study has the following importance:
 It provides information about the saturated zone, its depth
as well as the high potential zone of groundwater in the
study area.
 This work fills the existing gap of detail information and its
usage in the vertical electrical sounding method in the study
area.

9.  Tesfaye Kebede, et al., (1999, 2003) studied on
the geology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of
intrusive rocks of the Wollega area.
 From their study they documented a two-fold
classification of the granitoid rocks:
 the volcanic arc granitoids and within-plate or
anorogenic (A-type) granitoids.
 Another study was done by Grenne et al., (2003)
on the Neoproterozoic evolution of Western
Ethiopia Shield by using igneous geochemistry,
isotope systematics and U–Pb ages.

10.  They concluded that syn-kinematic composite plutons give
crystallization ages of 699±2 Ma (Duksi, U–Pb zircon) and 651±5
Ma (Dogi, U–Pbtitanite) and testify to a prolonged period of major
(D1) contractional deformation during continental collision and
closure of the ‘Mozambique Ocean’.
 Age and hafnium isotopic evolution of the Didesa and Kemashi
Domains, western Ethiopia were also carried out by Blades et al.,
(2013, 2015).

11.  Sensitive High Resolution Ion MicroProbe U-Pb ages from two
granites and a felsic granite and hornblende + biotite tonalite in the
Nekempt–Ghimbi region of the Western Ethiopian Shield (Didesa
and Kemashi Domains) indicate two pulses of magmatism at 850–
840 Ma and 780–760 Ma.
 Further west, the post-tectonic Ganji granite yielded a 206 Pb/ 238
U age of 584 ± 10 Ma, constraining pervasive deformation in the
area.

12.  The previous works were not carried out for assessment of ground
water using electrical resistivity sounding.
 There is still adequate problem for assessment of the relation
between subsurface structure and groundwater flow in the
catchment.
 Hence a detailed study using Geophysical (vertical electrical
sounding) method to map and characterize the subsurface structure
contributing for groundwater flow in the catchment will be
attempted in this work

13. 3.1. Location and accessibility
 The study was conducted in the Hawa-Galan
district in the Oromia National Regional State of
Ethiopia.
 The study area extends between 8°28’ to 8° 51’
North latitude and 34° 46’ to 35° 12’ 3″ East
longitude and covers a total area of about 82779
hectare (Figure 1).

15. The need materials during data acquisitions are
the electrical resistivity meter and GPS are that
used at field survey.
The electrical resistivity meter measures and
displays the apparent resistivity of the
subsurface layers and other material associated
with it for data collection like
electrode,cable,power supply, hammer(used for
inserting the electrodes in to the ground),GPS
(used for measuring elevation, longitude and
latitude) and compass(locating the direction.
.

16.  In order to achieve these objectives, several steps will be
followed.
 These include reviewing previous works, on assessment of
groundwater potential including Hawa Galan catchment.
 Finally, geophysical methods will be employed in the study
area; VES method of prospecting.

17.  Area coverage of catchment is 54.16km2, but, at the
selected site of 18.62km2 geophysical experiment will
be carryout with profile separation of 400m.
 data from VES methods will be collected along
selected four parallel profiles, one cross profile lines,
from each profile lines five VES data will be collected
and observations will be made at 300m sounding
station spacing.
 A schlumberger array using current electrode spacing
500(AB/2=500) will be used to the maximum depth of
interest.
 The VES observation points will be generally located
at 300m interval.

18.  The VES data will be plotted on a bi-log paper and
resistivity curves and pseudo sections will be done
by using IP2WIN software.
 Those parameters obtained from IP2WIN software
will be arranged and analyzed with the lithological
units of existing boreholes to invert in to geo-
electrical sections using res-1D-inversion software
included within IP2WIN module and ultimately, the
quantitative method geo-electrical parameter, i.e.
true resistivity and layer thickness will be obtained
to make geo-electrical section using the software
Auto CAD2007 or surfer.

19. Phases of Activities Activities Academic Year 2023
Sep Octo Nov Dec Jan
u
Fe Mar Apri May Jun July
Pre field work Detail survey of literatures
reviews about the geology of
the area,
Acquire topographic map,
GPS, Clinometer, geologic
hammer, camera and other
field equipment for field work.
Field work
Field work, locations of
dimension stone of the area,
collecting rock samples, taking
in-situ measurements etc.
Post field work (Data analysis) Data analysis and
interpretation of the collected
rock samples of the area.
Field visit for data
Verification
Post
Field work (report writing)
Draft Report Preparation
Final report writing
Final report submission,
Presentation and Publishing
the report

20. Phases Items
Amount
required
number/packs
/number of
days
Unit cost
(Birr/unit)
Sub total
cost(birr)
A) Field work cost Data collector 12 data
collector* 14
days
363.00/day 60984.00
perdiem for a Researcher 6researcher*12
days
363.00/day 26136.00
B) Travel cost for field work
and laboratory analysis
a) For field work 8person*10 375/day 30 ,000.00
b) For renting resistivity meter
cables, hammer, electrodes,
battery and GPS from
Geological Survey of Ethiopia.
3*15days 724/day 32580.00
c) For lab. analysis at Addis
Ababa
2person/2days 2000/day 8,000.00
C) Material Cost Stationaries (note book,
binder, printing and pen)
4000
Total= 161700.00
D)Laboratory analysis
expenses (Sample processing &
analysis
Layer resistivity, 60 thin sections
80 polished
sections
100.Mechanical
Strength
analysis