DEVELOPING URBAN WATER RESOURCES AND CONTAMINATION RISKS ON THE POPULATION OF CAMEROON: A BAMENDA EXAMPLE
ZEPHANIA N. FOGWE *
Department of Geography, Laboratory of Environment, Hazards and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Letters and Social Sciences, Box 3132, University of Douala, Cameroon.
FIDELIS OROCK TANYI
Higher Technical Teachers Training College, Kumba, University of Buea, Cameroon.
INNOCENT SAMGWA
Department of Geography, Higher Teachers Training College, Bambili, Box 39, The University of Bamenda, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study identifies springs and streams in Bamenda as well as their contamination risk through physico-chemical and bacteriological pollution form waste disposal and catchment sources degradation by human activities in an urban setting with advanced drinking water scarcity in the dry season. There are no control measures to maximize water resources exploitation for the general welfare. The study uses primary and secondary data from field and laboratory analysis to identify the pollution sources to be tied to fishing, crop irrigation, sand extraction, waste disposal, dress washing, bathing, drinking and bike and car washing. Percentage pollution was 18.5 for springs and 23.62 for streams and largely free from, E. coli and salmonella coliforms, while Staphylococci coliform bacterial contamination ranged from 100 to 110 CFU/mL for springs and 600 to 675 CFU/mL for the streams. Some mitigating suggestions have been made.
Keywords: Bacteria, inhabitants, springs, urban, water contamination