Abstract

Nearly two-thirds of people on Earth suffer from water scarcity, with 55.6% of those without access to sanitary facilities also lacking clean water. 60 million Nigerians do not have access to safe water, despite multiple government initiatives. Due to increasing population density, industrialization, and forest loss, groundwater—a vital resource for residential, agricultural, and industrial uses—is becoming more and more scarce. Using weighted overlay analysis and GIS technology, this study attempts to map groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were gathered from NASA, USGS, and FAO sources on rainfall (2012–2022), digital elevation models (DEMs), Landsat imagery, and soil vector data. Layers were normalized and weighted according to effect levels: slope (20%), rainfall (15%), soil (15%), stream density (15%), NDWI (15%), NDVI (15%), and NDBI (5%). Important indices, such as NDWI, NDVI, and NDBI, were obtained using ArcGIS 10.8. The study area was divided into low and high GWPZs using a weighted overlay technique. The findings showed that there was a considerable potential for groundwater in flat areas with sandy soils, moderate vegetation, and substantial rainfall. Because of their impervious surfaces, urbanized areas demonstrated poor potential. The effectiveness of GIS and remote sensing in defining GWPZs is demonstrated by this work, which provides an affordable substitute for conventional techniques. In order to improve groundwater recharge and lessen scarcity, policymakers should concentrate on sustainable water management techniques, such as urban design and soil conservation.