Hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics of groundwater in Mbanga, Njombe and Penja (Banana Plain) – Cameroon

Ako, Andrew Ako; Shimada, Jun; Hosono, Takahiro; Ichiyanagi, Kimpei; Nkeng, George Elambo; Eyong, Gloria Eneke Takem; Roger, Ntankouo Njila

doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.06.003

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Therefore, shallow groundwater in the Ndop plain was either recharged after 1952 or a considerable portion of the water was in equilibrium with the atmosphere since the early 1950s. This has also been reported in most shallow groundwater in Sub-Saharan Africa (Loehnert 1988;Njitchoua et al 1997;Oga et al 2008;Huneau et al 2011;Fantong et al 2010;Ako et al 2012;Lapworth et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…As reported, groundwater in semi-arid northern Africa (Huneau et al 2011;Lapworth et al 2013), low-latitude of West Africa (Loehnert 1988;Acheampong and Hess 2000;Oga et al 2008;Onugba and Aboh 2009;Ako et al 2012;Lapworth et al 2013), including Cameroon (Njitchoua et al 1997;Ketchemen-Tandia et al 2007;Fantong et al 2010;Ako et al 2012;Kamtchueng et al unpublished data) principally contains post-1952 meteoric recharge waters, suggesting a renewable resource. Despite the significance of such studies in groundwater management, they are limited in most communities in Cameroon where shallow groundwater is a primary source of household water supply.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Although 3 H levels in the atmosphere and precipitation have declined (because of radioactive decay and cessation of atmospheric testing) to the low natural concentrations, groundwater dating has recently been successfully carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa using 3 H (Fantong et al 2010;Dassi 2011;Huneau et al 2011;Ako et al 2012). As reported, groundwater in semi-arid northern Africa (Huneau et al 2011;Lapworth et al 2013), low-latitude of West Africa (Loehnert 1988;Acheampong and Hess 2000;Oga et al 2008;Onugba and Aboh 2009;Ako et al 2012;Lapworth et al 2013), including Cameroon (Njitchoua et al 1997;Ketchemen-Tandia et al 2007;Fantong et al 2010;Ako et al 2012;Kamtchueng et al unpublished data) principally contains post-1952 meteoric recharge waters, suggesting a renewable resource.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shallow groundwater recharge mechanism and apparent age in the Ndop plain, northwest Cameroon

et al. 2015

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Knowledge of groundwater recharge and apparent age constitutes a valuable tool for its sustainable management. Accordingly, shallow groundwater (n = 72) in the Ndop plain has been investigated using the stable isotopes of oxygen ( 18 O) and hydrogen ( 2 H or D) and tritium ( 3 H) to determine the recharge process, timing and rate of recharge, and residence time. The shallow groundwater showed low variability in d18 O values (-2.7 to -4.1 %) and 3 H content (2.4-3.1 TU). The low variability suggests a similar origin, homogenous aquifer, good water mixing and storage capacity of the groundwater reservoir. Like surface water, a cluster of groundwater along the Ndop Meteoric Water Line (NMWL) and Global Meteoric Water Line indicates meteoric origin/recharge. The rainfall recharge occurs under low relative humidity conditions and negligible evaporation effect. About 80 % of the recharge is from direct heterogeneous/diffuse local precipitation at low altitude (\1,260 m) within the Ndop plain. Approximately 20 % is from high altitude precipitation (localised recharge) or is recharged by the numerous inflowing streams and rivers from high elevations. A homogenous cluster of d-values in groundwater (and surface water) between May and June monsoon rains on the NMWL suggests dominant recharge during these months. The recharge represents at least 16 % ([251 mm) of the annual rainfall (1,540 mm) indicating high annual recharge; high enough for development of the groundwater resource for agriculture. The 3 H content ([2.4 TU) in groundwater indicates post-1952 recharged water with an estimated residence time \30 years, suggesting short subsurface circulation, and subsequently a renewable aquifer.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shallow groundwater recharge mechanism and apparent age in the Ndop plain, northwest Cameroon

et al. 2015

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“…Geographically, it is located between latitudes 4°10' -4°50' North of the Equator, and longitudes 9°20' -9°50' E of the Greenwich meridian. (Ako et al, 2010). The populations of these towns have witnessed rapid increase between 1987 and 2006.…”

Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To Ako et al (2010), the development of plantation agriculture and the fertility of the soils in the Banana plain (Mungo Corridor) have created a pole of attraction for labourers from Cameroon and beyond. The towns of Mbanga, Njombe, Penja and Loum have witnessed significant transformations because of plantation agriculture.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2015

GJEMPS

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The establishment of agro-plantations which is a colonial legacy is an important contributor to urban development in Tropical Africa. This paper examines the process of agro-industrial plantation development and consequent urbanization in the Mungo Corridor -an agricultural curnocupia of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. With the aid of field surveys and the distribution of 100 questionnaires using the systematic sampling technique which were complemented by secondary sources, the study employed the correlational analysis to establish a relationship between the establishment of plantations and urbanization in the Mungo Corridor. In establishing a nexus between the spatial distribution of plantations and the process of urbanization in the Mungo Corridor, the empirical results showed that most of the indicators of agro-industrial development and urbanization have linear relationships at 1%, 5% and 10% levels of significance. Furthermore, this paper argues that although other factors might have contributed to the urbanisation process of the Mungo Corridor, the role of agro-industrial plantation development stand out clear. As such a process is noted to have precipitated urban development challenges, the study recommends, among others, that the Delegation of Urban Development, in collaboration with the councils should embark on measures aimed at ensuring urban renewal by designing a comprehensive programme for planning and development of new layouts in the area. In addition, camps should be improved upon by rehabilitation and refurbishment while a proper waste treatment method should be adopted by the plantation establishments to mitigate the attendant effects of pollution that the populations already decry. Finally, it seems logical and equitable that the plantation authorities should cede or surrender some land to the local population to provide them with space for food cropping and housing construction.

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The groundwater recharge regime of some slightly metamorphosed neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks: an application of natural environmental tracers

Yidana

Koffie

2013

Hydrological Processes

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Isotope data of precipitation and groundwater in parts of the Voltaian Basin in Northern Ghana were used to explain the groundwater recharge regime in the area. Groundwater recharge is an important parameter in the development of a decision support system for the management and efficient utilization of groundwater resources in the area. It is therefore important to establish the processes and sources of groundwater recharge. δ18O and δ2H data for local precipitation suggest enrichment relative to the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL) and indicate that precipitation takes place at a relative humidity less than 100%. The groundwater data plot on an evaporation line with a slope of 5, suggesting a high degree of evaporative enrichment of the precipitation in the process of vertical infiltration and percolation through the unsaturated zone into the saturated zone. This finding is consistent with the observation of high evapotranspiration rates in the area and ties in with the fact that significant clay fraction in the unsaturated zone limits vertical percolation and thus exposes the percolating rainwater to the effects of high temperatures and low humidities resulting in high evapotranspiration rates. Groundwater recharge estimates from the chloride mass balance, CMB, method suggest recharge in the range of 1.8–32% of the annual average precipitation in the form of rainfall. The highest rates are associated with areas where open wells encourage significant amount of groundwater recharge from precipitation in the area. In the northern parts of the study area, groundwater recharge is lower than 12%. The recharge so computed through the application of the CMB methodology takes on a spatial distribution akin to the converse of the spatial pattern of both δ18O and δ2H in the area. As such, the locations of the highest recharge are associated with the most depleted values of the two isotopes. This observation is consistent with the assertion that low vertical hydraulic conductivities slow down vertical percolation of precipitation down to the groundwater water. The percolating precipitation water thus gets enriched in the heavier isotopes through high evapotranspiration rates. At the same time, the amount of water that finally reaches the water table is considerably reduced. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics of groundwater in Mbanga, Njombe and Penja (Banana Plain) – Cameroon

Cited by 26 publications

References 27 publications

Shallow groundwater recharge mechanism and apparent age in the Ndop plain, northwest Cameroon

Shallow groundwater recharge mechanism and apparent age in the Ndop plain, northwest Cameroon

Untitled

The groundwater recharge regime of some slightly metamorphosed neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks: an application of natural environmental tracers

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