Challenges of groundwater pollution and management in transboundary basins at the African scale
<p>We address the significant knowledge gap for groundwater pollution in Africa methods by assessing groundwater pollution risk at the African scale. To do so, we compiled the most recent continental-scale information on soil, land use, geology, hydrogeology, and topography in a Geographical I...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
Copernicus Publications
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/da6cbec423b048898971ba10c5d09e03 |
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| Sumario: | <p>We address the significant knowledge gap for groundwater
pollution in Africa methods by assessing groundwater pollution risk at the
African scale. To do so, we compiled the most recent continental-scale
information on soil, land use, geology, hydrogeology, and topography in a
Geographical Information System at the resolution of 15 <span class="inline-formula">×</span> 15 km and the
<span class="inline-formula">1:60 000 000</span> scale. We produced a vulnerability map by using the generic
DRASTIC vulnerability indicator. This map revealed that groundwater is highly vulnerable in Central and West
Africa groundwater basins, where the water table is shallow. In addition, very low vulnerability classes are
found in the large sedimentary basins of Africa deserts where groundwater is
situated in very deep aquifers. The generic groundwater pollution risk map
is obtained by overlaying the DRASTIC vulnerability indicator with current
land use. The northern, central, and western parts of the African continent
are dominated by high vulnerability classes and very strongly related to
water table depths and the development of agricultural activities. Given the
availability of data, we concentrate first on nitrate vulnerability mapping.
To this end, groundwater nitrate contamination data are compiled in
literature using meta-analysis technic and used to calibrate as well linear
and nonlinear statistical models; the latter performing much better as
compared to simple linear statistical models. This study will help to raise
awareness of the manager's International Basin Authorities or Transboundary
Basin Organizations in Africa and in particular on transboundary groundwater
pollution issues.</p> |
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