title: 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.
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 Ca(2+) > Mg(2+) > 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology and Chemistry, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan. bricetchakam@gmail.com.|Institute of Mining and Geological Research (IRGM), PO Box: 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon. bricetchakam@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brice T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kamtchueng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mining and Geological Research (IRGM), PO Box: 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Wilson Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Fantong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, 259-1211, Japan.
authors.forename: Mengnjo J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wirmvem
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology and Chemistry, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Rosine E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tiodjio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mining and Geological Research (IRGM), PO Box: 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Alain F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Takounjou
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Science, University of Yaounde I, PO Box: 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jules R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ndam Ngoupayou
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology and Chemistry, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusakabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology and Chemistry, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, 259-1211, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mining and Geological Research (IRGM), PO Box: 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tanyileke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mining and Geological Research (IRGM), PO Box: 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Joseph V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Hell
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology and Chemistry, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D002163:Cameroon; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D062070:Hydrology; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D054712:Salinity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D007554:Isotopes; D009566:Nitrates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Foumbot plain West Cameroon; Hydrogeochemistry; Multivariate statistical analysis; Quality risk assessment; Stable isotopes; Surface and groundwater