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Volume 2
Journal of Environmental Research
Page 70
JOINT EVENT
July 26-27, 2018 Rome, Italy
&
6
th
Edition of International Conference on
Water Pollution & Sewage Management
4
th
International Conference on
Pollution Control & Sustainable Environment
A quantitative analysis of the extent of anthropogenic influence on ground water pollution in douala,
cameroon
Akenji Victorine Neh
university of Buea
G
roundwater is the earth’s most important water resource. About two billion people depend directly on aquifers for drinking
water, and 40 percent of theworld’s food is produced by irrigated agriculture,mostly of groundwater. Groundwater pollution
is a major issue because aquifers are inherently susceptible to contamination from anthropogenic impacts (Thirumalaivasan et
al., 2003). Because groundwater pollution takes decades or to manifest, it is difficult and expensive to technically remediate an
aquifer once it is polluted (Morris
et al.,
2003). Douala, the most populated city in Cameroon depends heavily on groundwater
for livelihood. Basic sanitation in this city has not been matched by rapid urbanization within the last 2 decades (Eneke
et
al.,
2011). Only 2.16% of the 3 million inhabitants access pipe-borne water (Guévart
et al.,
2006), making groundwater all
the more important in Douala. This study aimed at evaluating the susceptibility of groundwater in Douala to pollutants from
anthropogenic sources, with specific objectives to:
• Identify potential anthropogenic sources of groundwater pollution in the study area.
• Determine the chemical and microbial quality of groundwater in the study area.
• Propose suitable measures to reduce anthropogenic sources of groundwater pollution.
Methodology:
• Survey to identify potential waste sources, being Dump sites, various workshops, industrial and domestic effluent
spots.
• Sampling of 50 randomly selected wells for chemical and microbial analysis to determine the quality of the water.
The research shows that 80% of the city’s inhabited area is contaminated. The first step in the prevention of further pollution of
groundwater from anthropogenic sources is participatory sensitization of pollution prevention.
akenjivictorine@yahoo.comJ Environ Res 2018, Volume: 2