A hydrogeochemistry study was conducted in Kanye region, located in south east of Botswana, to determine the main composition controlling mechanisms in the groundwater chemistry of the area. Groundwater samples were collected and analyzed. The samples were analyzed for major cations, anions and some trace elements such as As, Ba, Br, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. To determine the mechanism of salinization and water–rock interaction bivariate graph of the parameters Ca2+ + Mg2+ versus HCO3−+ SO42− was used. The groundwater is neutral to alkaline and fresh. The dominant cations in the groundwater are magnesium and calcium, and the dominant anions are bicarbonate and chloride. The prevailing hydrochemical facies is Mg-Ca-HCO3. The major composition controlling mechanisms in the groundwater chemistry of the area was identified as silicate weathering.
Groundwater recharge estimation using chloride mass balance (CMB) method was conducted in Molepolole area, SE of Botswana. The study area is semi-arid area with uneven distribution of rainfall throughout the year. The mean annual rainfall of the area is 423.64 mm. Climatically the area is characterized by two rainy seasons during the year separated into two by dry months. The first rainy season occurs during January, February, March and April and contributes 55.08 % of the mean annual rainfall of the area. The five months in the dry season are May, June, July, August and September and contribute 5.98 % of the mean annual rainfall of the area. October, November and December constitute the second rainy season and contribute 38.94 % of the mean annual rainfall of the area. The main source of groundwater recharge is rainfall. The computed groundwater recharge in the area is 0.82%, 3.14% and 0.09% of the mean annual rainfall of the area during the first rainy season, second rainy season and dry season, respectively.
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