@article{fdi:010078018,
  title = {{D}egradation of groundwater quality in expanding cities in {W}est {A}frica. {A} case study of the unregulated shallow aquifer in {C}otonou},
  author = {{H}ouemenou, {H}. and {T}weed, {S}arah and {D}obigny, {G}authier and {M}ama, {D}. and {A}lassane, {A}. and {S}ilmer, {R}. and {B}abic, {M}. and {R}uy, {S}. and {C}haigneau, {A}lexis and {G}authier, {P}hilippe and {S}ocohou, {A}. and {D}ossou, {H}. {J}. and {B}adou, {S}. and {L}eblanc, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n {C}otonou, as in many expanding {W}est {A}frican cities, major population growth and infrastructural development has not kept up with informal settlement development onto floodable plains and marshes. {T}he population of the slum, which makes up about 60% of the city's inhabitants, is highly disadvantaged and vulnerable to rising sea levels, flooding, sanitation and waste management issues. {H}owever, the risks associated with the use of contaminated shallow groundwater for domestic purposes are less recognised. {O}ur study demonstrates that, in many instances, the cheaper option of the use of shallow groundwater from the coastal {Q}uaternary aquifer for domestic purposes represents a significant risk for the poorer residents of {C}otonou through the voluntary (drinking) or non-volontary (dish washing, cooking) consumption of this unmonitored and untreated water resource. {I}n the 3 neighbourhoods surveyed, environmental tracers (major ions, {C}l/{B}r molar ratios and stables isotopes) showed that this shallow aquifer is degraded by seawater intrusion as well as septic and sewerage contamination. {I}n particular, the higher {NO}x concentrations correspond to ranges associated with sewerage and septic tank effluent pollution and the major ion concentrations and delta {H}-2-delta {O}-18 signatures showed that high salinity values are where groundwater mixes with saline {L}ake {N}okoue water. {T}he population using this resource from local wells should be made aware of seasonal changes in groundwater contamination and potential health risks associated with sewerage and septic tank contamination.},
  keywords = {{G}roundwater ; {S}ewerage and septic tank contamination ; {S}alinization ; {U}rbanization ; {R}echarge and discharge ; {BENIN} ; {COTONOU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {H}ydrology},
  volume = {582},
  numero = {},
  pages = {124438 [16 ]},
  ISSN = {0022-1694},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124438},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010078018},
}