Groundwater Quality Assessment and Its Suitability for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes in the Eocene Aquifer of Diourbel-center Senegal

Abstract

Water resource availability in quantity and quality is a primary factor which influences the development of various human activities worldwide. In most countries in Africa, due to the scarcity and poor quality of surface water, groundwater is the main natural resource used to relieve the increasing water demands of population. In Diourbel region (central Senegal), groundwater is an important resource used for economic activities. This study aims to evaluate groundwater quality and suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Thirty-seven (37) samples (boreholes and dug wells) were collected and major ions were analyzed. Classification of groundwater using TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) and TH (Total Hardness) showed respectively that 81.08% fall in the fresh water type, suggesting suitability for drinking water purpose. Moreover, most of groundwater samples fall in hard (21.62%) and very hard (75.68%) category of water. Furthermore, the computed values of WQI indicate majority of groundwater samples (76%) falls under good to excellent water, suggesting that the groundwater is suitable for drinking and other domestic uses. Data Wilcox and US Salinity Laboratory (USSL) plots show that the majority of groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation.% N, SAR, KR, PI, and RSC show that groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation except MR (Magnesium Ratio). This study shows a good quality of groundwater for consumption and irrigation purposes and thus contributes to the rural and urban development of the study area where the most productive aquifer is limited by the presence of brackish water.