Hydrogeochemistry of Surface and Ground Water in Alatening Village, Northwest Region, Cameroon

Kahnji Iren Njoyim,Vitalis Fonfo Fonzenyuy,Margaret Awah Tita,Bertrand Tatoh Aziwo,Estella Njoyim Buleng Tamungang,Lucas Kengni,Amaresh K Nayak

doi:10.1155/2020/8347095

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate petrography and the quality of water for drinking purposes in Alatening, Northwest Cameroon, with respect to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The indigenes of the study area, as well as other dwellers in rural areas, consume water from these sources whose quality is unknown; thus, it can lead to contamination and waterborne diseases. Three springs and two streams of Alatening village were investigated in early December 2017 and late July 2018 for organoleptic, physicochemical, and bacteriological parameters using standard methods. The petrographic studies revealed trachyte and benmoreite, and weathering of minerals from these rocks into the soil leads to the water-rock interaction, thus water hydrogeochemistry. All the water samples were clean except that of Alabong which had slight odour due to leaf fall. pH showed acidic water with the springs of Ngog and Alabong falling below the WHO limit in the dry season. Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS) were low implying low mineralised water which can also lead to shortage of important minerals in humans. All the essential ions were found within the WHO guideline values without any significant change in concentrations between seasons ( p > 0.05 ). The water facies were such as Mg-Ca, Cl-Ca, and HCO3-CO3, suggesting an influence of rock silicate weathering and anthropogenic influence. Aluminium and iron contents were above the WHO limit in both seasons due to their abundance in the soils which could be a risk factor for the local population. Faecal coliforms as well as specific bacteria such as Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, and Shigella were found in all the water samples, attributable to poor hygiene. Health data in the locality indicated the prevalence of typhoid, dysentery, and amoebiasis with a total of 2702 cases recorded between 2016 and 2017, therefore requiring treatment before consumption.

Highlights

Kahnji Iren Njoyim,1 Lucas Kengni,1 Margaret Awah Tita,2 Estella Njoyim Buleng Tamungang,3 Vitalis Fonfo Fonzenyuy,1 and Bertrand Tatoh Aziwo1
E purpose of this study was to evaluate petrography and the quality of water for drinking purposes in Alatening, Northwest Cameroon, with respect to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. e indigenes of the study area, as well as other dwellers in rural areas, consume water from these sources whose quality is unknown; it can lead to contamination and waterborne diseases. ree springs and two streams of Alatening village were investigated in early December 2017 and late July 2018 for organoleptic, physicochemical, and bacteriological parameters using standard methods. e petrographic studies revealed trachyte and benmoreite, and weathering of minerals from these rocks into the soil leads to the water-rock interaction, water hydrogeochemistry
Rock samples here are microliticporphyritic in texture with their phenocrysts being alkali feldspars which occur in large amounts as phenocrysts, pyroxenes, and opaque oxides

Summary

Introduction

Kahnji Iren Njoyim, Lucas Kengni ,1 Margaret Awah Tita, Estella Njoyim Buleng Tamungang, Vitalis Fonfo Fonzenyuy, and Bertrand Tatoh Aziwo. Nayak e purpose of this study was to evaluate petrography and the quality of water for drinking purposes in Alatening, Northwest Cameroon, with respect to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared in 2010 that safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right, which is essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights. Ese commitments were built on a long history of support including the UN General Assembly adopting the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 and declaring the period 2005–2015 as the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life.” [6] And so, water quality assessment and sanitation monitoring are of importance [7]. National standards of drinking water often require the determined allowable concentration of pollutants in water, and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines offer recommendations for managing the danger from hazards which could compromise safety of drinking water [8, 9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion