Assessing pollution pressures on the groundwater resource in Kinshasa (DR of Congo): an hybrid approach based on physico-chemical, isotopic and modelling analysis
(2012) PhD Student Day ENVITAM — Location: Espace Senghor, Gembloux
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- The groundwater below the city of Kinshasa is an important freshwater resource and is a major resource for drinking water supply in the peri-urban area of the capital of D.R. of Congo. At some places, the groundwater body is confined, but in the overwhelming part of the aquifer, the water body is semi-confined or free. Hence the groundwater body is extremely vulnerable for pollution from anthropogenic origin. The overall objective of the project is to design, implement and test a novel integrated approach for quantifying the contribution of the different pollution sources (peri-urban agriculture vs. domestic) to the pollution of the groundwater body below the city of Kinshasa. The specific objectives are: (i) To elucidate the actual knowledge of the pollution pressure on the Kinshasa groundwater body. This should be done by re-analysing the historical groundwater quality data (physico-chemical and isotopic fingerprint) using recently developed geo-statistical, conceptual modelling and isotopic mixture modelling tools; (ii) To optimize the protocol for isotopic fingerprinting of the recharging water by means of vadose zone passive sampling systems; (iii) To optimize and monitor the chemical fingerprint (classical physico-chemical and isotopic) of a selected set of groundwater and recharging water sampling points. The approach integrates chemical and isotopic fingerprinting of groundwater and recharging water in the overlying unsaturated zone, with advanced mathematical modelling (space-time geostatistical modelling and process based vulnerability mapping) of pollution pressures on groundwater bodies. The novel approach will support the development of sustainable groundwater protection and exploitation programmes in urban and peri-urban environments in Africa, and in Kinshasa in particular
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Mfumu Kihumba, A., & Vanclooster, M. (2012). Assessing pollution pressures on the groundwater resource in Kinshasa (DR of Congo): an hybrid approach based on physico-chemical, isotopic and modelling analysis. In Vanclooster M. (ed.), Proceedings (p. p. 64). https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/160770