Modelling the temporal dynamics of groundwater pollution risks at the African scale

DRASTIC; Groundwater pollution; Pan-African scale; Risk modelling; Sustainable development goal; Temporal dynamics; Vulnerability; Dynamics; Groundwater; Groundwater resources; Hydrogeology; Land use; Population statistics; Risk assessment; Topography; Water management; Continental scale; Fresh water resources; Future threats; Groundwater management; Interannual variation; Population densities; East African Lakes; Egypt; Lake Victoria; Nigeria; Nile Delta

Abstract :

[en] Groundwater pollution risk modelling is an important asset to improve groundwater management and protection. In this study, we assess the temporal dynamics of groundwater pollution risk at the continental scale, using the DRASTIC model. The approach was developed using continental-scale data on soil properties, topography, land use, geology, hydrogeology, and climate with a resolution of 15 x 15 km2. We compared continental-scale groundwater pollution risk for the years 1990, 2000, and 2010. The results showed significant inter-annual variations of the spatial distribution of pollution risk. Changes were mainly concentrated in the area of the Nile Delta, around the Lake Victoria, in North Africa, and in coastalWest Africa (predominately in Nigeria). We found that the increase in pollution risk was mainly related to the increase in the population density in these regions. The proposed methodology for modelling the temporal dynamics of groundwater pollution risk could support the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focus in particular on the preservation of the freshwater resources against future threats. © 2020 by the authors.

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology
Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Ouedraogo, I.; Ecole Supérieur d'Ingénieurs de Fada (ESI-Fada), Université de Fada N'Gourma, Fada N'Gourma, BP 54, Burkina Faso

Girard, A.; Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, Box 2, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Belgium

Vanclooster, M.; Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, Box 2, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Belgium

Jonard, François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Systèmes d'information géographiques

Language :

English

Title :

Modelling the temporal dynamics of groundwater pollution risks at the African scale

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Water

eISSN :

2073-4441

Publisher :

MDPI AG

Volume :

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Available on ORBi :

since 21 September 2021

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