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

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.