Geochemical framework for water quality studies in sub-Saharan Africa

The scope for using hydrogeochemical techniques in water quality studies in Africa is reviewed as a background to a set of thematic papers. Water quality problems are emerging as a key issue in Africa either:

• 1. 

  i) in view of the pressures of man-made pollution on finite resources; or

• 2. 

  ii) the existence of regions with naturally induced geological problems, for example fluoride endemic areas.

Such natural problems are the focus of this paper and the following topics were emphasised during a workshop in Sodere, Ethiopia: the need to determine natural baselines as a means of recognizing anthropogenic pollution; the need for high quality samples and field data, but relatively basic analytical data; the use of chloride to assist in recharge estimation and water-balance studies; an understanding of depth stratification of water quality as part of the design of well/borehole drilling programmes; the use of hydrogeochemistry in geothermal studies; the recognition of health and/or acceptability problems, especially for F, Fe, Mn, As, I and Al. Water quality standards for African countries need to be considered in the context of local geochemical environments and some of the WHO limits, especially for major ions, may be unattainable owing to naturally high total mineralization.     

Agricultural groundwater use and rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa: A first-cut assessment

The rapid expansion in agricultural groundwater use in the last few decades has transformed rural economies in large parts of the developing world, in particular South Asia and North China. There has been no such “Groundwater Revolution” in most of sub-Saharan Africa and little is known about the actual role of groundwater use in supporting agricultural livelihoods in the region or opportunities to expand this role in the future. Published literature has been reviewed to paint a preliminary, region-wide picture of the contribution groundwater makes to agriculture, and in turn to rural livelihoods, within sub-Saharan Africa. The findings indicate that groundwater is used on only 1–2 million hectares of cropped area, directly contributing to the livelihoods of 1.5–3% of the rural population. Groundwater also plays a critical role in the vital livestock sector as well as an important indirect role in the supply of domestic water to agricultural households. While data are lacking, these latter two roles likely surpass the direct importance of groundwater to crop production. This suggests that an understanding of the value of agricultural groundwater use in support of rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa should be based on different models than have typically been applied in Asia.

Evaluation of groundwater quality in coastal areas: implications for sustainable agriculture

Seawater intrusion is a problem in the coastal areas of Korea. Most productive agricultural fields are in the western and southern coastal areas of the country where irrigation predominantly relies on groundwater. Seawater intrusion has affected agricultural productivity. To evaluate progressive encroachment of saline water, the Korean government established a seawater intrusion monitoring well network, especially in the western and southern part of the peninsula. Automatic water levels and EC monitoring and periodic chemical analysis of groundwater help track salinization. Salinization of fresh groundwater is highly associated with groundwater withdrawal. A large proportion of the groundwaters are classified as Na–Cl and Ca–Cl types. The Na–Cl types represent effects of seawater intrusion. The highest EC level was over 1.6 km inland and high Cl values were observed up to 1.2 km inland. Lower ratios of Na/Cl and SO₄/Cl than seawater values indicate the seawater encroachment. A linear relation between Na and Cl represents simple mixing of the fresh groundwater with the seawater. The saline Na–Cl typed groundwaters showed Br/Cl ratios similar to or less than seawater values. The Ca–HCO₃ type groundwaters had the highest Br/Cl ratios. Substantial proportions of the groundwaters showed potential for salinity and should be better managed for sustainable agriculture.     

Smallholder groundwater irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa: an interdisciplinary framework applied to the Usangu plains, Tanzania

A simple but comprehensive framework for analysing the potential for and constraints to groundwater development for irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is proposed. The framework, based on food value chain principles, is applied to the sub-Saharan context and a specific catchment in Tanzania, the Usangu plains, where groundwater has been proposed as a strategic resource for augmenting food production and smallholder livelihoods and to alleviate seasonal water scarcity. The novel contribution of the work is the presentation of a tool that can be applied to support an interdisciplinary approach to systematically identify most significant barriers and most critical water management and development interventions for sustainable development of groundwater irrigation. The result of the case study shows that farmer economics, capacity, and pump and well drilling market constraints limit groundwater irrigation in the Usangu plains rather than hydrogeological conditions.     

东莞市地下水环境质量现状评价

对东莞市地下水环境质量现状进行了综合评价,简析本区的环境容量和地表水体与地下水体的相互关系.分析了近20年来地下水环境质量的演化趋势,并分析了造成地下水水质污染和水环境恶化的原因,在此基础上提出了有关地下水资源保护和水环境管理的几点建议.     

Residence times of shallow groundwater in West Africa: implications for hydrogeology and resilience to future changes in climate

Although shallow groundwater (<50 mbgl) sustains the vast majority of improved drinking-water supplies in rural Africa, there is little information on how resilient this resource may be to future changes in climate. This study presents results of a groundwater survey using stable isotopes, CFCs, SF₆, and ³H across different climatic zones (annual rainfall 400–2,000 mm/year) in West Africa. The purpose was to quantify the residence times of shallow groundwaters in sedimentary and basement aquifers, and investigate the relationship between groundwater resources and climate. Stable-isotope results indicate that most shallow groundwaters are recharged rapidly following rainfall, showing little evidence of evaporation prior to recharge. Chloride mass-balance results indicate that within the arid areas (<400 mm annual rainfall) there is recharge of up to 20 mm/year. Age tracers show that most groundwaters have mean residence times (MRTs) of 32–65 years, with comparable MRTs in the different climate zones. Similar MRTs measured in both the sedimentary and basement aquifers suggest similar hydraulic diffusivity and significant groundwater storage within the shallow basement. This suggests there is considerable resilience to short-term inter-annual variation in rainfall and recharge, and rural groundwater resources are likely to sustain diffuse, low volume abstraction.     

湖底地下水排泄与湖泊水质演化

湖泊富营养化是当前全球范围内最为典型且严重的水环境问题之一,但过去偏重营养盐向湖泊的点源和面源输入评价,常常忽视地表水-地下水相互作用在湖泊水质形成与演化中的作用.总结了地下水-湖水相互作用模式,重点评述了地下水排泄过程对湖泊水文与水质影响的研究进展,对比了渗流仪测量、水量平衡、氡质量平衡、温度示踪、数值模拟等量化方法...     

An overview of dissolved organic carbon in groundwater and implications for drinking water safety

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is composed of a diverse array of compounds, predominantly humic substances, and is a near ubiquitous component of natural groundwater, notwithstanding climatic extremes such as arid and hyper-arid settings. Despite being a frequently measured parameter of groundwater quality, the complexity of DOC composition and reaction behaviour means that links between concentration and human health risk are difficult to quantify and few examples are reported in the literature. Measured concentrations from natural/unpolluted groundwater are typically below 4 mg C/l, whilst concentrations above these levels generally indicate anthropogenic influences and/or contamination issues and can potentially compromise water safety. Treatment processes are effective at reducing DOC concentrations, but refractory humic substance reaction with chlorine during the disinfection process produces suspected carcinogenic disinfectant by-products (DBPs). However, despite engineered artificial recharge systems being commonly used to remove DOC from recycled treated wastewaters, little research has been conducted on the presence of DBPs in potable groundwater systems. In recent years, the capacity to measure the influence of organic matter on colloidal contaminants and its influence on the mobility of pathogenic microorganisms has aided understanding of transport processes in aquifers. Additionally, advances in polymerase chain reaction techniques used for the detection, identification, and quantification of waterborne pathogens, provide a method to confidently investigate the behaviour of DOC and its effect on contaminant transfer in aquifers. This paper provides a summary of DOC occurrence in groundwater bodies and associated issues capable of indirectly affecting human health.     

中国农业广义水资源利用系数及时空格局分析

为统一核算区域蓝水、绿水资源有效利用程度,构建了农业广义水资源利用系数（E_g）指标,核算中国31个省区粮食生产中的E_g,并基于空间自相关和通径分析方法对其时空格局及成因进行分析。中国1998-2010年E_g为0.588,大部分省区呈随时间增大趋势;E_g相似的省区在空间上显著地聚集,高值省区聚集于西部,低值省区集中于东南地区,且空间聚集现象呈减弱趋势;农业生产管理水平对E_g的影响大于气候要素,社会经济条件影响最小。结合广义水资源利用状况,西南省区可扩大粮食生产规模以发挥E_g较大优势,东北与华北粮食主产区应通过提高E_g以保障粮食安全和水资源可持续利用。研究可发展农业用水效率评价理论同时为国家粮食生产与水资源管理策略的制定提供参考。     

Modeling groundwater quality in an agriculturally used water catchment

The sulfate pollution in an agriculturally used watershed has been investigated with respect to the transport in the saturated zone and the development of sulfate in the unsaturated zone. Besides of other sources such as acid wet and dry deposition or sulfate input by agricultural activities, most of the sulfate originates from oxidation of pyrite by either NO₃ or O₂. High sulfate concentrations coincided with high nitrate leaching caused by plowing of former grassland or by vegetable crop residues and with former wet lands that have become dry. By using soil water concentration data and maps showing the extension of former wetlands and grassland as well as agricultural land use, it was possible to delineate regions of high sulfate input. The transport of sulfate in the aquifer was analyzed with a modified version of the USGS MOC model, which takes into account the nonlinearity of the underlying equation describing unconfined groundwater flow. The calibration of the transport model showed good agreement between the estimated and modeled sulfate input rates. A prediction of future sulfate concentrations in the aquifer was feasible by using worst-case parameters.     

Statistical analysis of hydrochemistry of groundwater and its implications for water source identification: a case study

Hydrochemistry of groundwater is important for inrush water source identification in coal mines. For determining the source of inrush water from the 8101 working face in the Wolonghu coal mine, Northern Anhui Province, China, a total of 22 groundwater samples from three aquifer systems (loose layer—LA, coal bearing sandstone—CA, and the underlying limestone—TA), and eight samples from the 8101 working face were collected for analyzing major ion concentrations. The results suggest that major ion concentrations of the aquifer systems were different from each other, and they can be subdivided into Na–HCO₃, Na–SO₄, and Ca–SO₄ types. Factor analysis indicates that their chemical compositions are mainly originated from two kinds of contributions: dissolution of soluble minerals (e.g., calcite, dolomite, and gypsum) and weathering of silicate minerals (e.g., plagioclase). Plots of factor scores and cluster analysis imply that LA was connected with CA, whereas TA was an isolated aquifer system. Moreover, the source of 8101 working face water was finally determined to be LA by using discriminant analysis.     

南水北调水源与北京地下水混合的水质变化特征

南水北调水源进京后既要与地下水混合供水,又要将余裕水回灌地下保存,两地水源混合后的水质变化是人们关注的重要课题。本次研究中采集了丹江口地表水和北京调蓄池附近地下水,并开展了不同比例的混合试验。研究表明:丹江口水库水质优良;两地原水混合后,Na+、Mg2+、Cl-、SO2-4等组分表现为物理混合; Ca2+、HCO-3、pH值则受到碳酸平衡的强烈影响,当丹江口地表水占比较大时,混合溶液中硝化作用主导碳酸平衡,当地表水占比较小时,溶液中二氧化碳分压变化主导碳酸平衡。研究结果对南水北调进京后的供水具有重要意义。     

Assessing regional groundwater quality and its health implications in the Lokpaukwu, Lekwesi and Ishiagu mining areas of southeastern Nigeria using factor analysis

Unusual occurrence of mental-related illnesses has been reported in the Ishiagu mining area of South Eastern Nigeria and this may be related to the long-term consumption of heavy metal-contaminated groundwater. Groundwater from 27 domestic water sources (mainly open hand dug wells and springs) was therefore sampled within two seasons and analyzed for both physical and chemical parameters. Results were compared with international standards for drinking water and also subjected to factor analysis. The analysis showed that iron has the highest concentration of heavy metals exceeding the WHO-permitted desirable limit of 0.3?mg/l in about 73% of cases. Manganese was ubiquitous in groundwater samples exceeding the EU-permitted limits in about 41% of cases. Zinc, although within acceptable international limits was also common in samples from the Ishiagu central area, the Ayaragu, and the Amaubiri-Lokpauku axis. Lead and cadmium occurred in 3 and 13% of cases, respectively, and was outside international regulatory standards for drinking water. Long-term exposure to manganese and cadmium may therefore be a significant cause of the prevalence of mental related illness in the study area. There is also the possibility of impacts from other elements previously undetected in the groundwater system of the study area (but revealed through factor analysis) including arsenic, vanadium, bromine and fluorite (ide) and this needs urgent investigation. Major factors affecting groundwater quality included mineral dissolution and polluted discharge/recharge from mining operations.     

皖南山区农村地下水化学特征分析与水质评价

在安徽省南部山区林竹村现场测定50个水样的pH值、电导率和水温,结合9个水样的室内分析结果,分析了该地区的地下水化学类型、水质,指出当地的水体没有受到酚、氰、汞、砷、铬等成分的污染,但受生活污水的影响较大,可属Ⅱ类水;少数水样受农药化肥残留物的影响较大,属Ⅲ类水。并提出钻探一眼更好的深机井、注意生活用水的排放等措施,以提高当地的饮用水安全。     

Analysis of groundwater quality using water quality index and conventional graphical methods: the Volta region,Ghana

Conventional graphical and statistical methods were used with water quality indices to characterize the hydrochemistry of groundwater from the northern part of the Volta region of Ghana. The objective was to determine the processes that affect the hydrochemistry and the variation of these processes in space among the three main geological terrains: the Buem formation, Voltaian System and the Togo series that underlie the area, and to determine the suitability of groundwater from the area for drinking purposes. The Q-mode cluster analysis reveals three main water groups. The groups established from the Q-mode HCA appear to indicate different degrees of weathering which could further indicate varying levels of fracturing aquifer hydraulic properties. R-mode HCA and factor analysis (using varimax rotation and Kaiser Criterion) were then applied to determine the significant sources of variation in the hydrochemistry. This study finds that groundwater hydrochemistry in the area is controlled by the weathering of silicate and carbonate minerals, as well as the chemistry of infiltrating precipitation. Mineral activity diagrams for the CaO–Na₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O and CaO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O systems plotted for the area indicate stability in the smectite field and attribute hydrochemistry to the weathering of silicate minerals. Silicate mineral weathering and the effects of precipitation appear to be pervasive among all the three main geological terrains, whereas carbonate weathering is localized among the Voltaian aquifers. Cation exchange does not appear to play a significant role in the hydrochemistry but mild Water quality indices (WQI) were calculated for the samples using the concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, F⁻, and EC at the various sample locations. The WQI values indicate that groundwater from the study area is of excellent quality for drinking purposes. WQI values from groundwater samples are averagely higher than samples taken from surface water sources in the area. This implies that geology has had an impact on the WQI of groundwater in the area.     

Intradaily variability of water quality in a shallow tidal lagoon: Mechanisms and implications

Although surface water quality and its underlying processes vary over time scales ranging from seconds to decades, they have historically been studied at the lower (weekly to interannual) frequencies. The aim of this study was to investigate intradaily variability of three water quality parameters in a small freshwater tidal lagoon (Mildred Island, California). High frequency time series of specific conductivity, water temperature, and chlorophylla at two locations within the habitat were analyzed in conjunction with supporting hydrodynamic, meteorological, biological, and spatial mapping data. All three constituents exhibited large amplitude intradaily (e.g., semidiurnal tidal and diurnal) oscillations, and periodicity varied across constituents, space, and time. Like other tidal embayments, this habitat is influenced by several processes with distinct periodicities including physical controls, such as tides, solar radiation, and wind, and biological controls, such as photosynthesis, growth, and grazing. A scaling approach was developed to estimate individual process contributions to the observed variability. Scaling results were generally consistent with observations and together with detailed examination of time series and time derivatives, revealed specific mechanisms underlying the observed periodicities, including interactions between the tidal variability, heating, wind, and biology. The implications for monitoring were illustrated through subsampling of the data set. This exercise demonstrated how quantities needed by scientists and managers (e.g., mean or extreme concentrations) may be misrepresented by low frequency data and how short-duration high frequency measurements can aid in the design and interpretation of temporally coarser sampling programs. The dispersive export of chlorophylla from the habitat exhibited a fortnightly variability corresponding to the modulation of semidiurnal tidal currents with the diurnal cycle of phytoplankton variability, demonstrating how high frequency interactions can govern long-term trends. Process identification, as through the scaling analysis here, can help us anticipate changes in system behavior and adapt our own interactions with the system.