TITLE:
Chemical Evolution of the Continental Terminal Shallow Aquifer in the South of Coastal Sedimentary Basin of Benin (West-Africa) Using Multivariate Factor Analysis
AUTHORS:
Abdoukarim Alassane, Rim Trabelsi, Léonce F. Dovonon, Diane J. Odeloui, Moussa Boukari, Kamel Zouari, Daouda Mama
KEYWORDS:
Hydrogeochemical Process, Pollution, Shallow Groundwater, Continental Terminal, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.7 No.6,
April
14,
2015
ABSTRACT: In southern Benin, where population is growing and water demand for
domestic activities is increasing, water balance assessment constitutes a
serious concern about sustainability of water resources. Major ions have been
employed with statistical methods to identify geochemical processes controlling
groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical analysis (principal component
analysis “PCA” and hierarchical cluster analysis “HCA”) revealed the main
sources of groundwater mineralization. According to the hydrochemical data and
the methods of treatment, groundwater mineralization in the investigated aquifer
is caused by four main processes: 1) mixing with Nokoué lake and Porto-Novo
lagoon salt water causing salinity to increase in the southern part of the
aquifer; 2) anthropogenic activities; 3) cation exchange process; and 4) soil
CO2 diffusion providing a large proportion of bicarbonates.