Spatial Analysis of Groundwater Potential Zones in Katsina State Using GIS

Access to potable groundwater remains a challenge for rural communities across the semi-arid landscapes of North West Nigeria. This study identifies groundwater potential zones in Katsina State using an integrated GIS and remote sensing approach. Thematic layers including geology, lineament density, soil type, land use, slope, and drainage density are generated from Sentinel-2 imagery, digital elevation models, and geological survey data. Each thematic layer is assigned weights based on its hydrogeological significance using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. Weighted overlay analysis produces a groundwater potential map classifying the state into five potential zones. Results identify the highest groundwater potential in areas underlain by basement complex rocks with dense lineament networks, particularly in Dutsin-Ma, Safana, and Dandume LGAs. The study validates the potential zones using data from existing boreholes, achieving an agreement rate of 79 percent. The findings are directed at the Katsina State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency to guide strategic borehole siting and water resource planning. Keywords: groundwater potential, GIS, remote sensing, Katsina State, multi-criteria evaluation