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Hydrogeochemistry and quality of surface water and groundwater in the vicinity of Lake Monoun, West Cameroon: approach from multivariate statistical analysis and stable isotopic characterization

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Abstract

With the use of conventional hydrogeochemical techniques, multivariate statistical analysis, and stable isotope approaches, this paper investigates for the first time surface water and groundwater from the surrounding areas of Lake Monoun (LM), West Cameroon. The results reveal that waters are generally slightly acidic to neutral. The relative abundance of major dissolved species are Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+ for cations and HCO3 − ≫ NO3 − > Cl− > SO4 2− for anions. The main water type is Ca-Mg-HCO3. Observed salinity is related to water-rock interaction, ion exchange process, and anthropogenic activities. Nitrate and chloride have been identified as the most common pollutants. These pollutants are attributed to the chlorination of wells and leaching from pit latrines and refuse dumps. The stable isotopic compositions in the investigated water sources suggest evidence of evaporation before recharge. Four major groups of waters were identified by salinity and NO3 concentrations using the Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Consistent with the isotopic results, group 1 represents fresh unpolluted water occurring near the recharge zone in the general flow regime; groups 2 and 3 are mixed water whose composition is controlled by both weathering of rock-forming minerals and anthropogenic activities; group 4 represents water under high vulnerability of anthropogenic pollution. Moreover, the isotopic results and the HCA showed that the CO2-rich bottom water of LM belongs to an isolated hydrological system within the Foumbot plain. Except for some springs, groundwater water in the area is inappropriate for drinking and domestic purposes but good to excellent for irrigation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant from Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) project titled: Magmatic Fluid Supply into Lake Nyos and Monoun and Mitigation of Natural Disasters in Cameroon. Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) of Cameroon is highly acknowledged for providing logistics during sampling campaign. The manuscript was considerably improved by review comments from the anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Biology and Chemistry, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan

    Brice T. Kamtchueng, Rosine E. Tiodjio, Minoru Kusakabe, Jing Zhang & Akira Ueda

  2. Institute of Mining and Geological Research (IRGM), PO Box: 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Brice T. Kamtchueng, Wilson Y. Fantong, Alain F. Takounjou, Gregory Tanyileke & Joseph V. Hell

  3. Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, 259-1211, Japan

    Mengnjo J. Wirmvem & Takeshi Ohba

  4. Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box: 812, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Jules R. Ndam Ngoupayou

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  1. Brice T. Kamtchueng
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  2. Wilson Y. Fantong
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Correspondence to Brice T. Kamtchueng.

Electronic supplementary material

Online resource 1 (EMS_1)

Relative average concentration of silica and cations (mg/l) in various waters sources in the study area indicating that groundwater is chemically evolved relative to more diluted surface waters. (GIF 93 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 88 kb)

Online resource 2 (EMS_2)

Chloroalkaline index 1 (a) and 2 (b) for water sources in Foumbot plain showing almost negative indices. (GIF 102 kb)

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Online resource 3 (EMS_3)

Impact of anthropogenic activities on water degradation in Foumbot plain. (GIF 486 kb)

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Kamtchueng, B.T., Fantong, W.Y., Wirmvem, M.J. et al. Hydrogeochemistry and quality of surface water and groundwater in the vicinity of Lake Monoun, West Cameroon: approach from multivariate statistical analysis and stable isotopic characterization. Environ Monit Assess 188, 524 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5514-x

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