Evaluation of Water Resources in the Confront of Climate Variability in the N’Zi Watershed at M’Bahiakro (Central-East Côte d’Ivoire)
BAÏ Ruth *
Unit Training and Research in Earth Sciences and Mining Resources, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Swiss Center for Scientific Research of Ivory Coast, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
SANTE Natacha
Unit Training and Research in Science and Environment Management, University Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
AKE Gabriel Etienne
Unit Training and Research in Earth Sciences and Mining Resources, Félix Houphouët- Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
N’CHO Achie Hervé
Unit Training and Research in Science and Environment Management, University Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
KONAN Kouakou Séraphin
Unit Training and Research in Science and Environment Management, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Côte d'Ivoire.
KOUAME Kouassi Innocent
Unit Training and Research in Science and Environment Management, University Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
KOUASSI Kouakou Lazare
Unit Training and Research in Science and Environment Management, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Côte d'Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study evaluates the availability and management of water resources in the N’Zi watershed at M’Bahiakro, in central-east Côte d’Ivoire, under the influence of climate variability. Water resources play a crucial role in water supply, the development of irrigated rice cultivation, and the preservation of local ecosystems. The analysis is based on rainfall series (1944‑2016) and hydrological data (1960‑2004). Climatic breaks were identified using the Pettitt test and the Lee & Heghinian test. The methods of precipitated and runoff water depths, the recession coefficient, and the volume of water mobilized by aquifers were applied to characterize hydrological dynamics and water availability. The results show significant breaks in 1968, 1973, 1989, and 2005, associated with rainfall deficits (11.7% to 18.8%) and a notable decline in streamflow and volumes mobilized by aquifers. Monthly analysis reveals a strong correlation between precipitation and runoff, with some localized anomalies indicating a complex hydrological response. The recession coefficient highlights a progressive drying of aquifers starting from the 1970s. These changes indicate a particularly high-water vulnerability in M’Bahiakro, which could threaten the sustainability of irrigated rice cultivation, food security, and water availability. Therefore, the study has been carried out to incorporate both historical climate variations and anthropogenic factors in the analysis of water resources, with the aim of ensuring sustainable and secure management of water systems, which is essential for agricultural production and drinking water supply.
Keywords: Climate variability, water resources, groundwater recharge, hydrological fluctuations, N’Zi Watershed, M’Bahiakro, Côte d’Ivoire