Assessment of Groundwater Potential for Sustainable Urban Management in Mubi South Local Government Area, Adamawa State Nigeria: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach

This study addresses the critical challenge of unsustainable groundwater exploitation in Mubi South Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State, Nigeria, by employing a Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach to assess and zone groundwater potential for sustainable urban management. Rapid urbanization and increasing water demand in the region have heightened the need for a comprehensive understanding of groundwater resources. Integrating multi-source geospatial data—including Landsat imagery, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), soil data, and settlement information—the study analyzes six key factors (Drainage Density, Slope, Soil, Elevation, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), and Aspect) to generate a composite groundwater potential index. Five distinct groundwater potential zones were identified: Marginally High (12,093.42 hectares), Average (7,189.67 hectares), High (8,361.73 hectares), Low (11,927.18 hectares), and Very Low (7,676.06 hectares). These zones exhibit varying degrees of groundwater availability, with the High and Marginally High zones supporting 38 and 72 settlements, respectively, while the Low and Very Low zones encompass 49 and 43 settlements. The findings reveal that depth, recharge rates, water quality, and sustainability are critical factors influencing groundwater potential. By enumerating settlements within each zone, the study provides actionable insights for local water resource management. This research contributes a nuanced understanding of groundwater dynamics in Mubi South LGA, offering a robust foundation for sustainable urban development and water resource planning. The results underscore the importance of zone-specific management strategies to optimize groundwater utilization and enhance resilience to climate change.