Some specialists use the electrical resistivity methods to determine the quality of groundwater. I see that we carry the method more than its ability... what do you see? Taking into account the difference between water salinity and water quality
Basically, Electric resistivity methods are a form of geophysical surveying that aids in imaging the subsurface potential by the input current and multiplying by a geometric factor specific to the array being used (Wenner or Schlumberger) and electrode spacing. It is new science if it could be used for determining the quality of groundwater.
Well,
A decrease in water resistance, assuming other properties held constant, implies an increase in total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water.
Since TDS is among the criteria involved in determining water quality,
I think it makes sense to use this method to investigate water quality in terms of major ion content.
In fact, it is a complex situation. Without previous information from nearby boreholes, one can't be sure about the salinity of the groundwater. The presence of clay can lead also to a decrease in the resistivity values similar (somehow) to the case of the presence of groundwater with relatively high TDS values. Water quality is another story :-)
