by Wotchoko P, Tita M.A, Kouankap N.G.D, Alice M, Nkemnji J.Z, Guedjeo C.S and Kamgang K.V
Original Research
Bafia-Muyuka is situated at the foot of the North Eastern flank of Mount Cameroon. The rock types of this area are mainly basaltic with minerals such as; pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase and opaque minerals. Samples collected from five (5) different springs during the rainy and dry seasons were analysed. The Physico-chemical analysis for both seasons were compared with WHO (2004) standard and were found to fall within the acceptable limit but for the exception of high temperature values in all the spring waters and NH4+ during the rainy season. All the spring waters yielded pH values above 6.5 and were classified as barely acidic to neutral water. Electrical conductivity ranged between 180-302µs/cm. The relative abundance of major ions (mg/l) were as follows; Ca2+> Mg2+> K+> Na+> NH4+ for cations and HCO3‾ > Cl‾ > NO3‾ > SO42‾> HPO42‾ for anions. These results suggested an influence of natural processes mainly from rock weathering. The Piper’s plot showed that, these springs are characterized by the Calcium-Magnesium Bicarbonate facie (Ca-Mg-HCO3 water type). The results indicate that the springs are non-polluted chemically and are fairly portable and suitable for domestic purposes.
American Journal of Water Resources. 2016, 4(5), 111-120. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-4-5-2
Pub. Date: November 15, 2016
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by Kenny Nyirenda, Daniel Kaputula and Ronald Ngulube
Case Study
In most informal settlements in Zambia, access to piped water and proper sanitation system still remains a challenge. This has led to people in these settlements to rely on groundwater from shallow wells which are either protected or unprotected. In terms of human waste disposal, the majority of the people depend on traditional pit latrines. In order to help protect and sustainably manage the groundwater resources, a study was undertaken to investigate groundwater quality and its spatial distribution in Mulenga informal settlement in Kitwe district, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. A total of twenty eight (28) groundwater samples were collected from twenty eighty (28) wells in the aforementioned settlement. The samples were analysed for total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), pH, sulphates, nitrate, total and faecal coliforms using standard techniques. Results were compared with the Zambian Bureau of Standards (ZABS) guideline values for drinking water and in some cases, with WHO guideline values. In terms of microbiological parameters, all water samples in Mulenga informal settlement tested positive for total and faecal coliforms. Parameters such as TDS, TSS and sulphate complied with ZABS drinking water guideline values. Other parameters which include turbidity ranged from 0 to 52NTU, pH from 5.1 to 6.8 and nitrates from 1.6 to 35.6mg/L did not comply with ZABS drinking water guideline values at the majority of the wells. Spatial distribution maps revealed that larger parts of Mulenga informal settlement display pH values less than ZABS and WHO minimum permissible value of 6.5 while sulphate and nitrate levels ranged from 1 to 20mg/L and 10 to 20mg/L respectively. In terms of turbidity and TDS, their spatial distribution maps display significantly high turbidity levels (>20NTU) in the south-eastern and some north-western parts of Mulenga informal settlement while slightly high TDS values (>500m/L) were displayed in south-eastern and north-western parts of the settlement. The highest numbers of total and faecal coliforms were concentrated in the north-eastern and central parts of Mulenga informal settlements.
American Journal of Water Resources. 2016, 4(5), 102-110. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-4-5-1
Pub. Date: November 15, 2016
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