Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Shallow Groundwater in Lomé, Togo

Kossitse Venyo Akpataku^1,2*, Masamaéya D. T. Gnazou¹, Tse Yawo Agbefu Nomesi³, Phintè Nambo¹, Komi Doni¹, Limam Moctar Bawa¹, Gbandi Djaneye-Boundjou¹

¹Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment (Ex Laboratory of Water Chemistry), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Kara, Kara, Togo.
³Agency of Water and Sanitation for Africa, Office of Togo, Lomé, Togo.

DOI: 10.4236/gep.2020.812010                

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the physicochemical and microbiological quality of shallow groundwater tapped by private boreholes for water sale in Togo’s most urbanized coastal areas. Ninety-six (96) groundwater samples were collected at the water sale points for chemical and microbiological analyses using standard methods. The results showed that groundwater is predominantly acidic with fresh and brackish water of Na-Cl type. High concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (NO₃^- , NH₄⁺and NO₂^-) and permanganate indices indicating potential organic matter were found. Among the major ions, Na⁺ (46.9%), Cl^- (51.0%) and NO₃^- (50.0%) present the highest percentages of unsuitable concentrations compared to WHO guidelines. These findings indicate the control of the natural impact of seawater and lagoon system and anthropogenic pollution from domestic and urban wastes on groundwater’s physicochemical quality. About 65% of groundwater samples did not comply with the drinking water guidelines for microbial indicators, including total mesophilic flora, thermotolerant coliforms, and sulfite-reducing anaerobes. The results showed the failure of sanitation and hygiene conditions around sampling points and fecal contamination from sewage, pit latrines, septic tanks, and refuse and waste disposal. The degradation of physicochemical quality is higher in the old and high-density built-up areas. Simultaneously, microbial contamination represents a high risk of contracting waterborne or hygiene-sanitation-related diseases in the whole study area. This study provides a global view of shallow groundwater’s physicochemical and microbiological quality in the study area. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

Shallow Groundwater, Saltwater, Nitrate, Fecal Contamination, Lome-Togo

1. Introduction

Groundwater is the most precious water resource for human survival and socio-economic development all over the world. However, groundwater quality can be affected negatively due to natural geological-hydrogeological conditions and human-induced factors (Shirazi et al., 2015; Ontiveros-Terrazas et al., 2020). In the last decade, the development of human activities have increased the pressure on groundwater and the degradation of its quality in rural as well as urban areas (Cronin et al., 2007; Umezawa et al., 2008; Chidya et al., 2016; Lapworth et al., 2017; Anornu, Gibrilla, & Adomako, 2017; Akpataku et al., 2019).

Although groundwater in urban areas is sometimes contaminated with multiple contaminants at higher concentrations than in rural areas, one of the most prevalent pollutants in both regions is nitrate (Kuroda & Fukushi, 2008; Diaw et al., 2020). Based on a long-term dataset, Graniel, Morris, & Carrillo-Rivera (1999) showed a substantial change in the hydrochemical characteristic and nitrate contamination of groundwater due to urbanization in the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. In urban areas, leaky sewage, septic tanks, industrial spillages, landfill leachates, and fertilizers used in gardens are more common nitrate sources (Kuroda & Fukushi, 2008; Diaw et al., 2020). Many studies have focused on nitrate and other pollutants such as fluoride, arsenic, uranium, heavy metals, and pesticides, which limit the use of groundwater resources regarding human health hazards (Tiktak et al., 2004; Wen et al., 2013; Jadhav et al., 2015; Coyte et al., 2019).

Beyond chemical contamination of groundwater, people’s exposure to microbial pathogens through drinking water causing subsequent illness is a global problem that concerns developing and developed countries (Douterelo et al., 2014; George et al., 2015; Kapembo et al., 2016). For example, Pitkänen et al. (2011) assessed microbial contamination of twenty (20) small community groundwater supplies in central Finland. They evidenced fecal contaminations by the appearance of Escherichia coli or intestinal enterococci in five (5) groundwater supplies, all managed by local water cooperatives. Groundwater vulnerability was due to on-site technical hazards such as inadequate wells construction and maintenance, enabling surface water to enter into the well, and the insufficient depth of protective soil layers above the groundwater table. In the municipality of Bumbu (Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo), Kapembo et al. (2016) identified fecal contamination of groundwater from mainly human origin using PCR amplification human-Bacteroides. They have also highlighted the potential human risk associated with the exposure to contaminated groundwater from wells due to the high level of nitrate and fecal indicator bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and total coliforms. Mazari-Hiriart et al. (2000) used groundwater bacterial indicators and pathogens and the relationship between water quality and diarrheal disease rates in Mexico City (Mexico) to suggest ways to improve the potential of environmental health indicators (EHI) by framing epidemiological data and the use of GIS. Viable counts, fecal coliforms, Vibrio cholera, total streptococci, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and Escherichia coli allowed indicating vulnerable zones to water quality deterioration in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coastal aquifers, South India (Keesari et al., 2015; Vasudevan et al., 2020). In the deeper part of these aquifers, sulfate-reducing bacteria’s predominance supported the hypothesis of reducing conditions that may lead to possible arsenic contamination in groundwater (Keesari et al., 2015).

The primary water security and public health concerns in urban sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the coastal cities of the Gulf of Guinea, are the chemical and microbial contaminations of shallow groundwater evidenced by high contents of nitrate, heavy metals, fecal coliforms, and fecal Streptococci in boreholes and dug wells water samples (Erah, Akujieze, & Oteze, 2002; Takem et al., 2010; Gibrilla et al., 2011; Mande et al., 2012; Totin et al., 2013; Affum et al., 2015; Soncy et al., 2015). In-situ sanitation facilities, mainly pit latrines and septic tanks, are considered the dominant cause of microbiological contamination and a significant cause of nutrient loading to water sources (Lapworth et al., 2017). Groundwater in coastal areas can also evidence an accentuated salinization due to seawater’s influence (Akouvi et al., 2008; Olufemi, 2010; Mohamed et al., 2020).

Like other African cities, the coastal town of Lomé experienced a socio-economic development and a galloping growth of the population with a rate of 6.1% per year these last years (MPRPDAT/DGSCN, 2011; MPT-Togo, 2013). Unfortunately, infrastructures of vital needs such as sanitation and drinking water supply systems have not kept pace with the city’s expansion. The collective municipal sanitation system is minimal. Most of the time, septic tanks’ construction does not respect the rules, and uncollected wastes become uncontrolled rubbish dumps. Domestic and industrial wastewaters are untreated before released into the environment (MPT-Togo, 2013). These features constitute potential sources of high contamination, both chemical and microbial, of the shallow aquifer, the primary and overexploited resource for drinking water in Lomé (Mande et al., 2012; Soncy et al., 2015; Gnazou et al., 2017). In addition to formal groundwater exploitation by the Togolese Water Company (TdE), the past decades have witnessed a proliferation of informal private boreholes (MEAHV, 2010). Generally, owners do not determine the quality of water intended for human consumption despite the regulatory texts. A better understanding of boreholes water sale’s impact on water resources sustainability and public health is then required for decision-making concerning these informal activities. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the physicochemical and microbial quality of shallow groundwater and its suitability for drinking and domestic purposes in Togo’s most urbanized coastal areas. A high-resolution sampling for physicochemical and microbial analyses was designed to provide a global view of groundwater quality. An approach integrating classical hydrochemical methods, and GIS, was used to evaluate the results based on WHO guidelines and the EU Drinking Water Directives.

2. Study Area

The coastal city of Lomé is located on the sedimentary basin of the Gulf of Guinea, namely the Keta basin that extends from Ghana to Nigeria. The study area lies between the latitudes 6˚08'N and 6˚18'N and the longitudes 1˚5'E and 1˚23'E (Figure 1). It covers over an area of around 360 km² with 1.6 million inhabitants in 2010 (MPRPDAT/DGSCN, 2011). The climate is of subequatorial Guinean type, characterized by two rainy seasons (April to July and September to October) and two dry seasons (July to August and November to March) with an average rainfall of 900 mm/year. The average monthly temperatures range from 25˚C (August) to 29˚C (March) (Gnazou, 2008).

The geological context of the study area integrates that of the post-Paleozoic sedimentary series of the Gulf of Guinea (Ghana-Togo-Benin-Nigeria) set up by the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and starting with the Maastrichtian to end with the Quaternary series (Sylvain et al., 1986; Helstrup, 2006; Da Costa et al., 2013; Gnazou et al., 2015b). The hydrostratigraphy of the sedimentary basin counts four aquifers (Figure 2). They are represented by Quaternary formations,

Figure 1. Location map and built up area estimated from SPOT 6 satellite image (acquired on December 8, 2015).

Continental Terminal sands, Paleocene limestones and sands, and Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) sands and sandstones (Gnazou et al., 2017). Private boreholes highly exploit the Continental Terminal aquifer for domestic purposes. Its average transmissivity is around 5 × 10⁻³ to 8 × 10⁻³ m²/s, and the mean depth of boreholes is approximately 30 m below ground level (m bgl). Figure 2 shows the geological North-South cross-section of Cretaceous-Quaternary sediments.

3. Methodology

3.1. Groundwater Sampling and Analyses

A total of 96 groundwater samples were collected from selected boreholes water sale points during December 2015 (Figure 1). The Global Positioning System (GPS: Garmin eTrex 20) was used to record sampling points’ exact locations. Polyethylene bottles of 1.5 L, washed and rinsed several times using water to be sampled, were used to collect samples for physicochemical analyses. For microbial assays, water samples were collected in sterile (121˚C/25mn) glass bottles of 500 mL. A burner was used to sterilize the taps before taking samples. The samples were labeled, stored at 4˚C, and transported to the laboratory for chemical and microbial analysis. pH, dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured in situ at each sampling point using HANNA portable equipment. Organoleptic parameters, total hardness, major and minor ions, and permanganate indices were determined. The microbiological analyses concerned the count of total mesophilic flora, thermotolerant coliforms, and sulfite-reducing anaerobes. Such indicator organisms can be used as surrogates due to the lack of specific pathogen data from water supplies (Llopis-González et al., 2014; George et al., 2015). Moreover, testing for all waterborne disease-causing organisms is not practicable due to the complexity, time-consuming, and expensive cost of the

Figure 2. Geological North-South cross-section of Cretaceous-Quaternary sediments in the Coastal Sedimentary Basin of Togo. The location of the cross-section is shown on the inset (Helstrup, 2006; Gnazou et al., 2015b).

tests (Gibrilla et al., 2011; Keesari et al., 2015). Therefore, testing was done for groups of thermotolerant coliforms and sulfite-reducing anaerobes that discriminate fecal contamination and total mesophilic flora to estimate sanitation and hygiene failure conditions around sampling points.

All analyses were carried out using the standardized methods of the French Association for Standardization (AFNOR) (Rodier et al., 2009) as described by Gnazou et al. (2015a) and Soncy et al. (2015).

3.2. Data Treatment

The hydrochemical and microbiological results were compared to WHO and EU water quality standards to assess the groundwater suitability for drinking and domestic purposes (European Union Council, 1998; WHO, 2011, 2018). Hydrochemical facies or water types indicating the dominants anion and cation in water samples were obtained using the Piper diagram (Piper, 1944). Sawyer & McCarty (1967) classification was used to identify groundwater categories based on the total hardness content. ArcGIS software was used to produce the spatial distribution map of selected water quality parameters and assess groundwater quality’s spatial variation and its relation with the built-up area density. The built-up areas map was estimated from the SPOT 6 satellite image acquired on December 8, 2015.

4. Results and Discussions

4.1. Physicochemical Characteristics

The statistical summary of the physicochemical results is presented in Table 1. All of the 96 water points sampled are odorless. 98% of the samples are colorless (<5 mg Pt/L). The turbidity varied between 0.05 and 23.6 NTU. 94.8% of the water samples were clear water with values below the WHO guideline value of 5 NTU. 5.2% were slightly turbid waters with values higher than 5 NTU. Higher turbidity results from suspended matter such as clay, silt, and organic matter. The temperature varied between 27.0˚C and 34.3˚C with a mean value of 30.3˚C ± 1.0˚C. The pH values went from 4.19 to 7.56, with an average of 5.73 ± 0.72, indicating predominantly acidic groundwater. About 81.3% of the samples have an unsuitable pH value than the WHO (2011) guideline range of 6.5 to 8.5. pH range is similar to that in groundwater from the portion CT aquifer in Benin (Alassane et al., 2015). Acidic groundwater was also indicated in the shallow coastal aquifer in Cote d’Ivoire (Yapo et al., 2010) and the unconfined sandy aquifer of Douala, Cameroon (Takem et al., 2015). These acidic water may result from co-factors’ interplay, including atmospheric acid deposition from industries, municipal solid wastes incineration, urbanization-induced deforestation and acid-rain gas emissions, loads of organic matter and ammonium, and a low proportion of acid-consuming minerals such as carbonates in the aquifer matrix. Low pH is favorable to metal corrosion. Consequently, acidic groundwater may have an indirect effect on health since it may induce high mobility and high

Table 1. Statistical summary of physicochemical results.

BDL = below detection limit; ^aEU drinking water directive.

concentrations of poisoning heavy metals (Appleyard et al., 2004; Takem et al., 2015).

The EC and TDS values varied vary between 253 and 6000 µS/cm and 195 to 4548 mg/L with mean values of 1477 ± 1115 µS/cm and 1113 ± 850 mg/L respectively, indicating a wide range of mineralization from fresh to brackish groundwater. Based on the WHO (2011) guideline, 43.8% of samples were not suitable for drinking purposes. In the Gulf of Guinea, the presence of fresh and brackish waters with TDS value up to 5336 mg/L were also identified in the shallow groundwater from the Lagos coastal basin, SouthWest Nigeria (Yusuf et al., 2018). These high mineralizations contrast with the dominance of fresh shallow groundwater from CT and Quaternary aquifers in other coastal cities in the Gulf of Guinea. For example, in Cotonou-Bénin, Douala-Cameroon, and Abidjan-Southern Ivory Coast, the TDS values rarely reached 1000 mg/L (Oga et al., 2008; Yapo et al., 2010; Takem et al., 2015; Alassane et al., 2015; Emvoutou et al., 2018). These results show a significant variation in groundwater mineralization, probably due to local processes. Very low to brackish TDS values were also found in groundwater from aquifers in large coastal cities worldwide (Keesari et al., 2015; Shi et al., 2018; Vasudevan et al., 2020).

The total hardness (TH) measuring calcium and magnesium contributions to water chemistry was determined and expressed in a quantity of CaCO₃. In this study, values varied from 34 to 1301 mg CaCO₃/L with a mean value of 283 ± 240 mg/L (Table 1). Hard quality water type dominates in the study area (Table 2). Hard water type may induce excessive use of soap for cleaning. The increase of total hardness in water may also cause an unpleasant taste for consumers and scale formation (WHO, 2011). Few soft groundwater samples (8.3%) showed low total hardness.

The main cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) were higher than the guideline values of 100, 50, 150, and 12 mg/L in the order of 14.6, 9.4, 46.9, and 12.5%, respectively. The order of abundance of cations was Na⁺ > Ca⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺. The anions order of abundance was Cl⁻ > > >. Compared to the WHO guideline values, only the sulfate contents () are fully admissible. ranged from 12.2 to 567.3 mg/L with a mean value of 85.1 ± 113.3 mg/L. 31.3% of the collected samples presented low concentrations of compared to the WHO minimum limit of 30 mg/L for drinking water. For Cl⁻ and, 51.0% and 50.0% of the collected samples were higher than the guideline values of 250 and 50 mg/L, respectively. TDS, Na⁺, Cl⁻ and present the highest percentages of unsuitability. The spatial distribution of these hydrochemical parameters is presented in Figure 3. It shows that unsuitable samples are located mainly in the old and high-density built-up areas. In contrast, freshwater water samples with admissible nitrate concentrations are mostly distributed in the low built-up zones in the North to the West of the study area. This distribution supports the hypothesis of groundwater quality deterioration by urban wastewater, on-site sanitation facilities, and the intrusion of seawater and lagoon system water.

The trilinear Piper diagram was used to display the major ions composition of groundwater graphically (Figure 4). The majority of samples showed cationic and anionic compositions dominated by Na⁺ and Cl⁻ respectively, resulting in Na-Cl water type in the study area. The predominance of Na-Cl water type was also found in other studies of the coastal shallow aquifers along the Gulf of Guinea and explained by the strong influence of coastal sea aerosol spray, atmospheric deposition, and saline water intrusion from seawater and lagoon systems, on groundwater quality (Olufemi, 2010; Totin et al., 2013; Takem et al., 2015;

Table 2. Classification of groundwater based on the total hardness.

Figure 3. Spatial distribution of Selected parameters (a) TDS; (b) sodium, (c) chloride and (d) nitrate.

Figure 4. Piper diagram showing the predominance of Na-Cl water type.

Alassane et al., 2015; Yusuf et al., 2018). The presence of accessories water types such as Ca-Mg-HCO₃, Ca-Mg-Cl/SO₄, and Na-HCO₃ may indicate the influence of carbonaceous debris, gypsum, and concrete materials dissolution (Shi et al., 2018). The proportion of these calcic and bicarbonate water types may increase at a greater distance from the coastline due to less impact of saltwater (Akouvi et al., 2008; Alassane et al., 2015).

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen could be present in reduced nitrate forms such as nitrite and ammonium. Both components of dissolved inorganic nitrogen are minor in groundwater compared to nitrate. Their concentration varied from BDL to 5.5 mg/L and from BDL to 13.0 mg/L with mean values of respectively 0.2 ± 0.7 and 0.6 ± 1.9 mg/L respectively. These results are consistent with the review of Lapworth et al. (2017), indicating ammonium concentrations ranging from BDL to 60 mg/L in urban groundwater from sub-Saharan Africa, while maximum concentrations were below 10.0 mg/L for most case studies. The acute toxicity of nitrate is attributed mainly to its conversion to nitrite resulting in risks of methemoglobinemia in infants and pregnant women and possibly cancer risks (Fan, 2011). High nitrate concentrations represent also inhibiting factors in human capacities (WHO, 2011; Adimalla, 2020). Ammonium does not pose an immediate risk to human health but suggests the presence of more serious residential contaminants (Umezawa et al., 2008). The cases of high concentrations of ammonium found in this study suggest groundwater contamination from sources such as pit latrines, dumpsites, septic tanks, sewer leakage, sewage effluent, and sewage sludge (Umezawa et al., 2008; Lapworth et al., 2017). High concentrations of and in some parts of the aquifer system reveals low dissolved oxygen, or prevailing anaerobic conditions limited or not to the sampling period (Böhlke, Smith, & Miller, 2006; Umezawa et al., 2008). Besides, dissolved oxygen showed a wide range, consistent with the variability of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen components. Dissolved oxygen concentrations varied from 0.9 to 14.3 mg/L with a mean value of 5.2 ± 2.3 mg/L. About 38.5% of the values are below the minimum limit of 5 mg/L in drinking water (WHO, 2011).

Another common contaminant detected in urban groundwater is dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and further, it controls groundwater quality, microbial abundances, treatment coasts (McDonough et al., 2020). A significant association was depicted between DOC and fecal contamination parameters such as on-site sanitation and dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the city of Dakar, Senegal (Sorensen et al., 2020). The permanganate index was used to assess groundwater oxidability and speculate on the contamination by oxidizable organic matter. The permanganate index varied from BDL to 10.7 mgO₂/L with a mean value of 0.8 ± 1.7 mgO₂/L. The values higher than 0.5 mg O₂/L were measured in 36.5% of the collected samples. These results contrast with the results obtained by Gnazou et al. (2015a) in the neighboring rural areas where values were BDL in boreholes. They measured high values in large diameter open wells and Zio River samples. The contrasting results from both studies may reveal the extent of organic matter and, consequently, organic carbon loading to groundwater system from municipal and domestic waste in Lome’s city due to urbanization. However this interpretation is limited by the fact that in the permanganate test, volatile organic matter is not considered since the analysis is performed in a softly boiling solution, many organic compounds are only partially oxidized, and some oxidizable inorganic coumponds may contribute to the permanganate indice (Rodier et al., 2009).

4.2. Microbial Quality of Groundwater

Microbial contamination indicators are important water-quality parameters since exposures to microbes from drinking water could imply severe public health problems through waterborne diseases (WHO, 2011; Gara et al., 2018). The statistical summary of the germs count is presented in Table 3. The total mesophilic flora ranged from 0 to 2.1 × 10⁴ CFU/mL. About 60% of the collected samples exceeded the drinking water standard value of 100 CFU/mL (European Union Council, 1998). Results indicate aerobic bacteria’s proliferation in the groundwater system in response to nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and organic carbon loads. Although total mesophilic flora is no longer used as a health-related indicator, it indicates significant deterioration of groundwater quality due to the failure of sanitation and hygiene conditions around sampling points (Bartram et al., 2003; WHO, 2018). The results indicate the poor cleanliness of water distribution systems and the absence of water disinfection at most boreholes’ water supplies. Consequently, it appears a possible risk of pathogenic germs in groundwater used for drinking and domestic purposes in the study area.

The test of Escherichia coli in water provides evidence of recent fecal pollution originated from human and animal sources. Alternatively, testing the group of thermotolerant coliforms composed predominantly of E. Coli is regarded as an acceptable index of fecal pollution (WHO, 2011). The fecal coliforms or thermotolerant coliforms counts (FC) varied from 0 to 120 CFU/mL with 31.3% of samples above the guideline value of none detectable in any 100 mL of sample, indicating contamination from pit latrines, septic tanks, and sewage (European Union Council, 1998; WHO, 2018). Sulfite-reducing anaerobes (SRA) are also indicators of fecal contamination but represent germs that develop in the absence of oxygen and resist cooking. Their counts varied from nill to 130 CFU/mL, with almost 21% of collected samples above the guideline value, indicating riks to enteric viruses and protozoan (oo)cysts (WHO, 2018). These contaminated samples are also suggesting fecal pollution that took place previously or water points liable to intermittent contamination (WHO, 2011). However, results obtained in this study contrast with those of Gnazou et al. (2015a) and Soncy et al. (2015), who found fecal coliforms only in hand-dug wells but not in boreholes in and around Lome, Togo. Soncy et al. (2015) linked the difference in depth to the decrease of soil permeability due to clay content. The use of cased large diameter wells instead of boreholes at some water sale points can explain

Table 3. Microbiological germs loads in groundwater samples.

the result obtained. Fecal contamination can reach the deeper zone of the aquifer system due to hydrogeological conditions, inadequate borehole construction and maintenance, and the insufficient depth of protective soil layers above the groundwater table (Pitkänen et al., 2011; Llopis-González et al., 2014; Keesari et al., 2015).

Based on the three microbiological indicators used, about 65% of groundwater samples did not comply with the drinking water guidelines for human consumption. The spatial distribution of microbial quality of groundwater (not presented here) reveals no spatial coherence between the microbiological deterioration of groundwater quality and the built-up density as for the chemical aspect discussed above. Other studies also mentioned that the microbial contamination does not show a relationship with the density of on-site sanitation facilities and nitrate concentrations (Diaw et al., 2020), nor with the specific vulnerability classes established using COP and DRASTIC models (Llopis-González et al., 2014). These results evidence the necessity to consider both chemical and mirobiological aspects of groundwater quality to identify and rank vulnerable areas with a significant risk of groundwater quality deterioration.

It should be noted that this study focusing on the water quality at boreholes water sale points reveals the anthropogenic degradation of groundwater water quality in the study area. Groundwater mixing with the lagoon system is a potential source of groundwater contamination in addition to on-site sanitation facilities, leakage of municipal and industrial wastewater. Therefore, water resources interactions deserve considerations for future investigation with emphasis on additional contaminants such as pesticides, organic matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and trace elements including As, Cd, and Pb, which were determined in coastal surface water and sediments (Gnandi et al., 2011; Ayah et al., 2015; Badassan et al., 2020). The consideration of the impact of the seasonal rainfall with hydrogeological conditions as well as the risk factors associated with each sampling point (the type of boreholes, boreholes drilling technic, borehole construction and maintenance, boreholes lining, proximity to and density of contamination sources, boreholes depth, static level, etc.) could provide evidence on the specific sources and mechanisms of groundwater contamination (Gibrilla et al., 2011; Llopis-González et al., 2014).

It is essential to educate water vendors and consumers about low-cost technology for drinking water treatment and hygiene and sanitation practices related to boreholes drilling and water sale activities in the current state. Implementation of a reliable municipal sewer system, frequent monitoring of a wide range of groundwater quality indicators, and in situ assessment of water supply infrastructures at the sale points are necessary to improve access to safe drinking and domestic water in the study area.

5. Conclusion

A high-resolution sampling was conducted to assess the physicochemical and microbial quality of shallow groundwater at water sale points in the coastal city of Lomé, Togo. The study showed the predominance of acidic and Na-Cl water types with fresh or brackish character. TDS, Na⁺, Cl-, , and dissolved oxygen present high percentages of unsuitable concentrations among physicochemical parameters compared to WHO guideline values. High permanganate indices representing potential organic matter were also observed. The degradation of groundwater’s physicochemical quality is highly controlled by anthropogenic pollution from domestic and urban wastes, on-site sanitation facilities, and the natural impact of seawater and lagoon system. Abnormal levels of total mesophilic flora, thermotolerant coliforms, and sulfite-reducing anaerobes evidenced lack of water treatment before consumption, failure of sanitation and hygiene conditions around sampling points, and fecal contamination, indicating serious health hazards. The deterioration of groundwater’s microbial quality also originates from sewage, pit latrines, septic tanks, refuse and waste disposal. The spatial analysis of physicochemical quality showed generally unsuitable boreholes water for drinking purposes in the old and high-density built-up areas. The distribution of the microbial quality of groundwater suggests that untreated boreholes water consumption represents a high risk of contracting waterborne or hygiene-sanitation-related diseases in the whole study area. The low correlation between the distribution patterns of chemical and microbial groundwater quality was not well understood. Moreover, this study does not provide evidence on the specific sources and mechanisms of groundwater contamination. The Consideration of the impact of the seasonal rainfall, hydrogeological conditions, and contamination risk factors associated with each sampling point could provide more insight into groundwater quality’s temporal and spatial variation.

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Not applicable. The study does not involve human or animal subjects.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported financially by the Delegation of the European Union to Togo and the Agency of Water and Sanitation for Africa, Office of Togo.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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