Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Groundwater Potential Zones in Cross River North, Nigeria

Reliable domestic water supply remains a major challenge in many communities, particularly where water infrastructure is inadequate and groundwater availability varies spatially. This study assessed groundwater potential and the level of domestic water demand and supply in Cross River North, Nigeria, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and household survey analysis. Seven groundwater determinates factors were considered; geology, drainage density, land use/land cover, rainfall, slope, lineament density, and soil type and integrated through a weighted overlay to delineate groundwater-potential zones. Household data were obtained using 400 questionnaires, of which 362 were completed and returned, representing a 90.5% response rate. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression were used to examine household water consumption, access to water sources, and factors associated with water supply. The AHP results identified geology as the most influential groundwater-conditioning factor, with a weight of 0.338, followed by drainage density (0.181) and land use/land cover (0.169). The groundwater-potential map classified 36.22% of the mapped area as low potential, 34.12% as very low potential, 11.91% as moderate potential, and 17.75% as high potential. Household results showed a combined daily water use of 33,910 litres, with cleaning accounting for 69% of reported consumption. Seasonal water availability (24.86%), absence of water infrastructure (20.44%), and rapid population growth (19.06%) were the leading reported constraints to water supply. Furthermore, 83% of respondents travelled at least 300 m to obtain water. Regression analysis reported an (R^2) of 0.626, indicating that the model explained 62.6% of the variation in household water supply. The study demonstrates the value of integrating spatial groundwater assessment with household water-demand analysis to guide groundwater exploration, prioritise underserved communities, and improve domestic water-supply planning. Field investigations and borehole-yield assessments are recommended to verify mapped groundwater potential before development.