Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping of the Lukunga Watershed, Kinshasa-DR Congo
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59228/rcst.026.v5.i1.221Keywords:
Lukunga, Vulnerability, Mapping, Groundwater, WatershedAbstract
The proliferation of boreholes in the city of Kinshasa is a consequence of the shortage of drinking water supplied by the main provider of this vital resource. This situation poses a major challenge for the sustainable management of groundwater and highlights the health risks associated with aquifer pollution. These issues are becoming increasingly critical as the city's environment faces mounting pressures. The aim of this study was to map groundwater vulnerability using the GOD method and to assess the health risks associated with deficiencies in essential elements (Calcium and Magnesium) in the groundwater of the Lukunga catchment, by calculating the daily Health Risk Quotient (HQ) related to these deficiencies. The results of the physico-chemical analyses, based on 23 water samples collected during a field campaign in September 2023, validated the vulnerability mapping established from aquifer pollution indices. High vulnerability was observed in the lower parts of the watershed and along the main rivers (Lukunga and Binza) in the northwestern area. Five vulnerability classes were identified: "Very Low," "Low," "Medium," "High," and "Very High," covering 12.85%, 24.82%, 15.86%, 16.93%, and 29.54% of the total watershed area, respectively. The main source of pollution identified was domestic waste, resulting from uncontrolled dumping by the population, largely due to the near-total absence of an effective urban sanitation system. However, a more immediate health risk for the population in the Lukunga watershed stems from deficiencies in essential elements. The findings of this study are intended to serve as technical guidelines for the preservation and sustainable management of groundwater resources in the city of Kinshasa.
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