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Contribution of a hydrogeophysical approach to groundwater resource management in the developing world

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Abstract

Two billion people and a half in the world do not have an adequate quantity of quality water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. This paper proposes the use of a combined hydrogeophysical approach to explore groundwater resources as solution in developing countries. The Adamawa-Cameroon region gave room to this experimental investigation this approach is proved to be realistic and efficient to reinforce groundwater resource management with limited financial resources. The approach consisted in performing 50 vertical electrical soundings (VESs) including 16 nearby existing boreholes with available pumping test outputs for device calibration, empirical regression, and comparison between measured and theoretical data. Hence, the product Kσ and the transverse resistance TR were linked by an empirical relationship using VES data from the 16 reference boreholes. For the remaining 34 VESs, this relationship is used to calculate the hydrodynamic parameters. The resistivity ranges between 3 and 82.5 Ω.m with an average of 22.8 Ω.m. The transmissivity ranges from 0.46 to 46.2 m2/day with a mean value of 15.46 m2/day. The hydraulic conductivity ranges from 0.012 to 1.677 m/day a mean value of 0.465 m/day. A feedback survey in the study area revealed that this approach has improved the water comfort of 30% of local inhabitants in 5 years. Those parameters and other ones are mapped out, and this approach can be used to characterize aquifers in various developing countries which are experiencing water stress in the world.

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Data processed are included in the article.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very thankful to the three anonymous Reviewers who considerably improved the quality of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture and Engineering Art, Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 31, Foumban, Cameroon

    Z. Aretouyap

  2. Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    W. A. Teikeu, D. Bisso, P. N. Njandjock & R. Nouayou

  3. National Institute for Cartography, P.O. Box 800, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    S. C. Tchato & F. E. K. Ghomsi

  4. Faculty of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46, Maroua, Cameroon

    J. K. Domra

Authors
  1. Z. Aretouyap
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  2. W. A. Teikeu
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  3. S. C. Tchato
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  4. F. E. K. Ghomsi
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  5. J. K. Domra
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  6. D. Bisso
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  7. P. N. Njandjock
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  8. R. Nouayou
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Correspondence to Z. Aretouyap.

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Aretouyap, Z., Teikeu, W.A., Tchato, S.C. et al. Contribution of a hydrogeophysical approach to groundwater resource management in the developing world. Int J Energ Water Res 7, 375–386 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-022-00225-w

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