Revealing Hidden Resources: Mapping Groundwater Potential for Sustainable Life on Mandike Island, Indonesia

Water is an essential element for the survival of creatures on earth and plays a significant role in the development of ecosystems. However, water shortages are a global problem caused by poor regulation, monopolization, privatization, and potential conflict. In Indonesia, water problems, including floods and droughts, have become chronic. Mandike Island in Muna Barat Regency faces difficulties with clean water, so it depends on the surrounding islands. To overcome this, a survey and mapping of groundwater resources using the resistivity geoelectric method was conducted. The research aims to map groundwater potential on Mandike Island through 2D and 1D subsurface resistivity cross-sectional models and compile a groundwater potential map based on resistivity data. The findings show the presence of clay, sand, limestone, salt water and fresh groundwater. Potential fresh water was identified at a depth of 60 m at Site 5 and 9,26 m at Site 6, which is thought to be a freshwater layer because it is located under an impermeable layer of clay and limestone. Resistivity data also shows seawater intrusion at shallow depths and far below the surface. Hopefully, these findings will benefit the community and government in their efforts to exploit groundwater on Mandike Island.