Spring water quality and usability in the Mount Cameroon area revealed by hydrogeochemistry

Ako, Andrew Ako; Shimada, Jun; Hosono, Takahiro; Kagabu, Makoto; Ayuk, Akoachere Richard; Nkeng, George Elambo; Eyong, Gloria Eneke Takem; Takounjou, Alain L. Fouepe

doi:10.1007/s10653-012-9453-3

Cited by 80 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…It indicates that most of the samples belong to the kaolinite stability field, demonstrating that kaolinite is the most stable secondary phase for the waters in the study area. This result is consistent with what has been reported by some authors [7,28,31,39,40] under humid tropical climatic conditions. Kaolinite constituted the main clay mineral formed through the monosiallitization process, which characterizes the humid tropical zone [45].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…Major ions of groundwater in the study area are thus derived from the weathering of minerals in host rocks. Along the Cameroon Volcanic Line [7,39,40] and elsewhere in other countries [41,42], analogous observations have been reported in springs. Those observations are confirmed by the Gibbs diagram [43] for the study area (Figure 4a,b) which indicates that water-rock interaction is the dominant process controlling the main chemical composition of groundwater.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

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Importance of Rocks and Their Weathering Products on Groundwater Quality in Central-East Cameroon

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The present work highlights the influence of lithology on water quality in Méiganga and its surroundings. The main geological formations in this region include gneiss, granite and amphibolite. The soils developed on these rocks are of ABC type, which are acidic to slightly acidic. Electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, sulfate, chloride, phosphorus and exchangeable base values were low to very low in the soil samples. Groundwater samples were investigated for their physicochemical characteristics. The wide ranges of EC values (15.1-436 µS/cm) and total dissolved solids (9-249 mg/L) revealed the heterogeneous distribution of hydrochemical processes within the groundwater of the area. The relative abundance of major dissolved species (mg/L) was Ca 2+ > Na + > Mg 2+ > K + for cations and HCO 3 − >> NO 3 − > Cl − > SO 4 2− for anions.All the groundwater samples were soft, with total hardness values (2.54-136.65 mg/L) below the maximum permissible limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. The majority of water samples (67%) were classified as mixed CaMg-HCO 3 type. Alkaline earth metal contents dominated those of alkali metals in 66.66% of samples. Thus, for the studied groundwater, Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ ion adsorption by clay minerals was almost nonexistent; this implies their release into the solution, which accounts for their high concentrations compared to alkali metals. Ion geochemistry revealed that water-rock interactions (silicate weathering) and ion exchange processes regulated the groundwater chemistry. One water sample points towards the evaporation domain of this diagram, indicating that groundwater probably does not originate from a deeper system. Kaolinite is the most stable secondary phase in the waters in the study area, in accordance with the geochemical process of monosiallitization, which predominated in the humid tropical zone.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Importance of Rocks and Their Weathering Products on Groundwater Quality in Central-East Cameroon

et al. 2017

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“…CO(2)-driven silicate weathering and reverse cation exchange are the most important processes affecting the hydrochemistry of the spring waters. While tropical oceanic monsoon chloride-rich/sulfate-rich rainwater seems to affect spring water chemistry at lowaltitude areas (Ako et al, 2012). Figures 3 and 4 also show some of the water sampling points.…”

Section: Water Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of these are streams, wells and rivers. Groundwater is the only reliable water resource for drinking, domestic, and agricultural purposes for the people living in the Mount Cameroon area (Ako et al, 2012). Runoffs into these water bodies often carry or contain chemical substances which could be dangerous at high concentrations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physicochemical properties of soils and some water sources on the Western Flank of Mount Cameroon

Fomenky¹,

Tening²,

Mbene³

2017

Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Human activities such as agriculture, construction of houses and automobile workshops and natural processes alter the properties of soils and water which affect the health of plants, animals and humans. This work was therefore, aimed at investigating some physicochemical properties of soils and some water sources on the Eastern Flank of Mount Cameroon with altitude and selected natural and/or anthropogenic activities. Soils and water were sampled in February 2010 and analysed for their physicochemical properties using standard methods. The results of the soil analysis showed that all the soils in the region were acidic. Most of the physicochemical properties of the water analysed were within acceptable limits of WHO. The water sources between Tiko and Wonya-Mavio, Buea had higher nitrate. There were significant positive relationships (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) between nitrogen and altitude and carbon and altitude, respectively. Magnesium and ECEC showed a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) with altitude while calcium showed a highly significant negative correlation with altitude. Natural sources of pollution identified are weathering, erosion and sea water intrusions. The anthropogenic ones include wastes from homes, laundry, fertilizers and factories. Stringent soil and water management scheme or legislature is recommended.

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“…This mountain is predominantly made up of volcanic materials (basalts, lavas and pyroclastics) and containing several faults and fractures [3]. The coarse nature of the pyroclastics and the presence of fractured lavas make Mount Cameroon [4] potential volcanic aquifer system. The potential of volcanic rocks as aquifers strongly depends on their hydraulic characteristics, including the hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storativity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geo-Electrical and Borehole Investigation of Groundwater in Some Basalts on the South-Eastern Flank of Mount Cameroon, West Africa

Lordon¹,

Agyingi²,

Manga³

et al. 2017

JWARP

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The study area, located on the southwestern flank of Mt. Cameroon, is underlain by basalts. The occurrence of groundwater in these rocks has been evaluated in order to determine their potentials as a source of water for a water bottling and soft drink plant. To achieve this, the constant separation traversing (CST) was used and the data qualitatively analyzed to determine the occurrence of fractures as most probable borehole sites. From this analysis, three sites were selected, sites at which a vertical electrical sounding (VES) was done and interpreted. Results obtained show a four layered earth profile model type KHKH, corresponding to a typical weathered/fractured confined aquifer type curve. This profile was later confirmed from borehole information after drilling at three of the selected sites. The comparison of VES data with geological sections is corroborative. A constant rate pumping test was done at rates as well as the investigation of other hydraulic properties. The results obtained for hydraulic properties investigated for all three boreholes reveal that productivity is very good and these results also reveal that at maximum exploitation rates, lowest tolerable drawdown for all three boreholes may not be reached after ten years. Chemical analysis done in-situ and on samples at the laboratory reveal that this water has a better mineralisation compared to other bottled water brands sold on the Cameroon market.

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Spring water quality and usability in the Mount Cameroon area revealed by hydrogeochemistry

Cited by 80 publications

References 34 publications

Importance of Rocks and Their Weathering Products on Groundwater Quality in Central-East Cameroon

Importance of Rocks and Their Weathering Products on Groundwater Quality in Central-East Cameroon

Physicochemical properties of soils and some water sources on the Western Flank of Mount Cameroon

Geo-Electrical and Borehole Investigation of Groundwater in Some Basalts on the South-Eastern Flank of Mount Cameroon, West Africa

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