Hydrogeochemical characterization and natural background level determination of selected inorganic substances in groundwater from a semi-confined aquifer in Midwestern Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Abstract

Hydrogeochemical processes that govern selected inorganic substances distribution in a semi-confined aquifer were characterized using traditional hydrogeochemical approaches and natural background levels (NBLs). Saturation indices and bivariate plots were used to investigate the effects of water-rock interactions on natural evolution of the groundwater chemistry, whereas Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis and one-way analysis of variance classified the groundwater samples into three distinct groups. To highlight the groundwater status, NBLs and threshold values (TVs) of the substances were calculated using pre-selection method. Piper's diagram showed that the Ca-Mg-HCO3 water type was the only hydrochemical facies of the groundwaters. Although all samples, except a borewell with a high NO3- concentration, had major ion and transition metal concentrations within the World Health Organization's recommended guideline values for drinking water, Cl-, NO3- and PO43- exhibited scattered distribution patterns, reflecting their nonpoint anthropogenic sources in the groundwater system. The bivariate and saturation indices revealed that silicate weathering and possible gypsum and anhydrite dissolution contributed to the groundwater chemistry. In contrast, NH4+, FeT and Mn abundance appeared to be influenced by redox conditions. Strong positive spatial correlations between pH, FeT, Mn and Zn suggested that mobility of these metals was controlled by pH. The relative high F- concentrations in lowland areas may imply the impact of evaporation on this ion's abundance. Contrary to TVs of HCO3-, those of Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, F- and NH4+ were below the guideline values, confirming the influence of chemical weathering on the groundwater chemistry. Based on the present findings, further studies that take into account more inorganic substances are required for NBLs and TVs determination in the area, thereby setting up a robust sustainable management plan for the regional groundwater resources.