Hydrochemical Characterization and Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Mining Environment of Afema Township (South-East of Côte d’Ivoire)

Afema Township, located in the department of Aboisso, was mined from 1992 to 1998. At the end of the exploitation, the sites did not undergo any real rehabilitation work. In order to determine the impact of these mining activities on the physicochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater, this study was undertaken. The results of the water analyses collected in the mining area were processed using Piper's triangular diagram and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The methodological approach consisted, first of all, in determining the hydro-facies of the waters studied, then in dividing them into different groups on the basis of their hydro-chemical similarity and in identifying the factors likely to explain both the origin of the parameters studied and their correlation. Finally, the overall quality of these waters was estimated from the calculation of the quality index. The results showed that the waters studied were divided into two main families: chloride-calcium-magnesium waters and bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters. They were on the whole weakly mineralized, with an average electrical conductivity of 195.76 μS.cm-1. This mineralization was controlled by two essential phenomena, the residence time of water in the aquifers and surface infiltration and leaching from unsaturated ground. The physico-chemical quality of the groundwater studied complied with the standards of potability recommended by the WHO. However, the results also showed high levels of cadmium (0.052 mg.L-1) and lead (0.058 mg.L-1); this explained the overall poor quality of these waters according to the water quality index. Thus, the studied waters presented a real risk for human consumption. The consumption of these waters by local communities exposes them to health risks

Hydrochemical Characterization and Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Mining Environment of Afema Township (South-East of Côte d’Ivoire)

Afema Township, located in the department of Aboisso, was mined from 1992 to 1998. At the end of the exploitation, the sites did not undergo any real rehabilitation work. In order to determine the impact of these mining activities on the physicochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater, this study was undertaken. The results of the water analyses collected in the mining area were processed using Piper's triangular diagram and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The methodological approach consisted, first of all, in determining the hydro-facies of the waters studied, then in dividing them into different groups on the basis of their hydro-chemical similarity and in identifying the factors likely to explain both the origin of the parameters studied and their correlation. Finally, the overall quality of these waters was estimated from the calculation of the quality index. The results showed that the waters studied were divided into two main families: chloride-calcium-magnesium waters and bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters. They were on the whole weakly mineralized, with an average electrical conductivity of 195.76 μS.cm-1. This mineralization was controlled by two essential phenomena, the residence time of water in the aquifers and surface infiltration and leaching from unsaturated ground. The physico-chemical quality of the groundwater studied complied with the standards of potability recommended by the WHO. However, the results also showed high levels of cadmium (0.052 mg.L-1) and lead (0.058 mg.L-1); this explained the overall poor quality of these waters according to the water quality index. Thus, the studied waters presented a real risk for human consumption. The consumption of these waters by local communities exposes them to health risks

Caractérisation Hydro-Chimique et Évaluation de la Qualité des Eaux Souterraines de l’Environnement Minier du Canton Afema (Sud-Est de la Côte d’Ivoire)

Le Canton Afema situé dans le département d’Aboisso a connu une exploitation minière de 1992 à 1998. A la fin de l’exploitation les sites n’ont pas subi de réels travaux de réhabilitation. Afin de déterminer l’impact de ces activités minières sur les caractéristiques physico-chimiques et la qualité des eaux souterraines, cette étude a été entreprise. Les résultats des analyses d’eaux collectées dans la zone minière ont été traités à l’aide du diagramme triangulaire de Piper et de l’Analyse en Composantes Principales (ACP). L’approche méthodologique a consisté d’abord à déterminer les hydro-faciès des eaux étudiées puis à les repartir en différents groupes sur la base de leur ressemblance hydro-chimique et à identifier les facteurs susceptibles d’expliquer à la fois l’origine des paramètres étudiés et leur corrélation. Enfin, la qualité globale de ces eaux a été estimée à partir du calcul de l’indice de qualité. Les résultats ont montré que les eaux étudiées étaient réparties en deux grandes familles : les eaux chlorurées calciques et magnésiennes et les eaux bicarbonatées calciques et magnésiennes. Elles étaient dans l’ensemble faiblement minéralisées, avec une conductivité électrique moyenne de 195,76 μS.cm-1. Cette minéralisation était contrôlée par deux phénomènes essentiels, le temps de séjour de l’eau dans les aquifères et l’infiltration superficielle et le lessivage des terrains non saturés. La qualité physico-chimique des eaux souterraines étudiées était conforme aux normes de potabilité recommandées par l’OMS. Cependant, les résultats ont aussi montré de fortes teneurs en cadmium (0,052 mg.L-1) et en plomb (0,058 mg.L-1) ; ce qui était responsable de la mauvaise qualité globale de ces eaux selon l’indice de qualité. Ainsi, la consommation des eaux étudiées par les populations locales constitue un danger pour leur santé. Afema Township, located in the department of Aboisso, was mined from 1992 to 1998. At the end of the exploitation, the sites did not undergo any real rehabilitation work. In order to determine the impact of these mining activities on the physicochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater, this study was undertaken. The results of the water analyses collected in the mining area were processed using Piper's triangular diagram and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The methodological approach consisted, first of all, in determining the hydro-facies of the waters studied, then in dividing them into different groups on the basis of their hydro-chemical similarity and in identifying the factors likely to explain both the origin of the parameters studied and their correlation. Finally, the overall quality of these waters was estimated from the calculation of the quality index. The results showed that the waters studied were divided into two main families: chloride-calcium-magnesium waters and bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters. They were on the whole weakly mineralized, with an average electrical conductivity of 195.76 μS.cm-1. This mineralization was controlled by two essential phenomena, the residence time of water in the aquifers and surface infiltration and leaching from unsaturated ground. The physico-chemical quality of the groundwater studied complied with the standards of potability recommended by the WHO. However, the results also showed high levels of cadmium (0.052 mg.L-1) and lead (0.058 mg.L-1); this explained the overall poor quality of these waters according to the water quality index. Thus, the studied waters presented a real risk for human consumption. The consumption of these waters by local communities exposes them to health risks

Caractérisation Hydro-Chimique et Évaluation de la Qualité des Eaux Souterraines de l’Environnement Minier du Canton Afema (Sud-Est de la Côte d’Ivoire)

Le Canton Afema situé dans le département d’Aboisso a connu une exploitation minière de 1992 à 1998. A la fin de l’exploitation les sites n’ont pas subi de réels travaux de réhabilitation. Afin de déterminer l’impact de ces activités minières sur les caractéristiques physico-chimiques et la qualité des eaux souterraines, cette étude a été entreprise. Les résultats des analyses d’eaux collectées dans la zone minière ont été traités à l’aide du diagramme triangulaire de Piper et de l’Analyse en Composantes Principales (ACP). L’approche méthodologique a consisté d’abord à déterminer les hydro-faciès des eaux étudiées puis à les repartir en différents groupes sur la base de leur ressemblance hydro-chimique et à identifier les facteurs susceptibles d’expliquer à la fois l’origine des paramètres étudiés et leur corrélation. Enfin, la qualité globale de ces eaux a été estimée à partir du calcul de l’indice de qualité. Les résultats ont montré que les eaux étudiées étaient réparties en deux grandes familles : les eaux chlorurées calciques et magnésiennes et les eaux bicarbonatées calciques et magnésiennes. Elles étaient dans l’ensemble faiblement minéralisées, avec une conductivité électrique moyenne de 195,76 μS.cm-1. Cette minéralisation était contrôlée par deux phénomènes essentiels, le temps de séjour de l’eau dans les aquifères et l’infiltration superficielle et le lessivage des terrains non saturés. La qualité physico-chimique des eaux souterraines étudiées était conforme aux normes de potabilité recommandées par l’OMS. Cependant, les résultats ont aussi montré de fortes teneurs en cadmium (0,052 mg.L-1) et en plomb (0,058 mg.L-1) ; ce qui était responsable de la mauvaise qualité globale de ces eaux selon l’indice de qualité. Ainsi, la consommation des eaux étudiées par les populations locales constitue un danger pour leur santé. Afema Township, located in the department of Aboisso, was mined from 1992 to 1998. At the end of the exploitation, the sites did not undergo any real rehabilitation work. In order to determine the impact of these mining activities on the physicochemical characteristics and quality of groundwater, this study was undertaken. The results of the water analyses collected in the mining area were processed using Piper's triangular diagram and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The methodological approach consisted, first of all, in determining the hydro-facies of the waters studied, then in dividing them into different groups on the basis of their hydro-chemical similarity and in identifying the factors likely to explain both the origin of the parameters studied and their correlation. Finally, the overall quality of these waters was estimated from the calculation of the quality index. The results showed that the waters studied were divided into two main families: chloride-calcium-magnesium waters and bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters. They were on the whole weakly mineralized, with an average electrical conductivity of 195.76 μS.cm-1. This mineralization was controlled by two essential phenomena, the residence time of water in the aquifers and surface infiltration and leaching from unsaturated ground. The physico-chemical quality of the groundwater studied complied with the standards of potability recommended by the WHO. However, the results also showed high levels of cadmium (0.052 mg.L-1) and lead (0.058 mg.L-1); this explained the overall poor quality of these waters according to the water quality index. Thus, the studied waters presented a real risk for human consumption. The consumption of these waters by local communities exposes them to health risks