TITLE:
Geogenic Imprint on Groundwater and Its Quality in Parts of the Mamfe Basin, Manyu Division, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Richard Ayuk II Akoachere, Thomson Areapkoh Eyong, Sonia Ebot Egbe, Regina Engome Wotany, Michael Obiekwe Nwude, Omagbemi Omoloju Yaya
KEYWORDS:
Geogenic Imprint, Hydrogeochemical Facies, Groundwater Quality, Mamfe, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.7 No.5,
May
30,
2019
ABSTRACT:
Groundwater studies in parts of the Mamfe basin are
sparse and the Mamfe area has the highest
population density in the Mamfe basin. An in-depth study of groundwater rock
interaction and groundwater quality is of vital importance. This same part of
the basin is the economic centre and as such development of businesses in this area requires knowledge of the
groundwater quality. Therefore, this study was
undertaken to determine the input of the rock formations on the groundwater
solute chemistry and groundwater domestic-agro-industrial quality using hydrogeochemical tools and physicochemical parameters: Ionic ratios, Gibbs diagrams, Piper diagrams, Durov diagrams and water
quality indices. From physicochemical parameters, in the rainy season, pH ranged from, 4.3 - 8.6; EC, 3 - 1348 μS/cm; Temperature, 24.4℃ - 30.1℃ andTDS,
2.01 - 903.16 mg/L and in the dry season, pH ranged from 5.5 - 9.3; EC, 6 - 994 μS/cm; Temperature, 25℃- 38.6℃andTDS,
4.02 - 632.48 mg/L. Forty groundwater samples: 20 per season, wet and dry were analysed. The major ions fell below WHO acceptable limits for both seasons. The
sequences of abundance of major ions were: Ca2+ > K+ > Mg2+ > > Na+,
Cl- > > > > NO3 in wet season and Ca2+ >
Mg2+ > K+ > Na+, > Cl- > > > in dry season. Ion-exchange, simple
dissolution and uncommon dissolution processes determined groundwater
character. Groundwater ionic content was as a result of ion exchange from
rock-weathering. Water types are: CaSO4 and
MgHCO3 in both seasons. Hydrogeochemical facies are Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 and Ca-Mg-HCO3. SAR for wet season 0.05 - 0.06 and dry season 0.00 - 0.05, %Na wet season 3.64 - 16.59 and dry season 1.22 - 10.97, KR wet season 0.01 - 0.02 and 0.00