Research Article
Water Supply and Spring Discharges Assessment in the Foumban Locality, Western Highlands of Cameroon
Mfonka Zakari*,
Nap Njiemessa Fatima Nounou,
Nsangou Daouda,
Kouassy Kaledje Paulin Sinclair,
Kpoumie Amidou,
Emvoutou Huguette Christiane,
Nlend Bertil Ivon,
Nkoue Ndondo Raoul Gustave,
Ngo Boum Nkot Suzanne,
Mvondo Owono François,
Etame Jacques,
Ndjigui Paul-Desire,
Ndam Ngoupayou Jule Remy
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
22-36
Received:
27 April 2026
Accepted:
26 May 2026
Published:
15 June 2026
Abstract: Access to safe and sustainable water resources remains a major challenge in many sub-Saharan African urban centers, particularly in rapidly growing towns characterized by insufficient hydraulic infrastructure. This study investigates household water supply modes and evaluates spring productivity in the Foumban locality, situated in the Bamoun Plateau of the Western Highlands of Cameroon. It combines socio-economic surveys, hydrometric monitoring, geostatistical techniques, and multivariate statistical analyses to better understand the dependence of local populations on groundwater resources and the hydrodynamic behavior of springs in fractured basement aquifers. More than 500 households distributed across 13 localities were surveyed between 2014 and 2016 to assess water accessibility, consumption patterns, and socio-economic constraints related to water supply. In parallel, monthly discharge measurements were conducted on ten representative springs over one hydrological year using the volumetric gauging method. The results reveal that groundwater constitutes the principal source of domestic water supply in Foumban. During the dry season, 50% of households depend on springs, whereas 22.8%, 16%, 6.7%, and 4.5% rely respectively on CAMWATER, wells, boreholes, and rivers. In the rainy season, spring water remains dominant (39.7%), followed by CAMWATER (22.1%), wells (14.4%), rainwater (12.2%), boreholes (7.7%), and rivers (3.9%). Most households travel considerable distances to fetch water, reflecting the inadequacy of the public distribution network and the precarious socio-economic conditions of the population. Water-related diseases, notably typhoid and malaria, remain recurrent and are associated with the consumption of untreated water. Spring discharges vary significantly both spatially and temporally, ranging from 0.11 to 8.40 m³/h, with the most productive springs generally located along major fracture. Spring discharge variations closely follow seasonal rainfall patterns, although delayed recharge responses indicate heterogeneous aquifer behavior. Principal Component Analysis, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, and semi-variogram modeling reveal the coexistence of shallow weathered aquifers and deep fractured aquifers characterized by strong spatial heterogeneity. These findings provide valuable scientific information for sustainable groundwater management, urban water planning, and socio-economic development in Foumban and other basement regions of tropical Africa.
Abstract: Access to safe and sustainable water resources remains a major challenge in many sub-Saharan African urban centers, particularly in rapidly growing towns characterized by insufficient hydraulic infrastructure. This study investigates household water supply modes and evaluates spring productivity in the Foumban locality, situated in the Bamoun Plate...
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Research Article
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Rainfall and Temperature Extreme Indices over Ethiopia, East Africa
Gezahegn Mergia Tullu*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
37-54
Received:
14 August 2026
Accepted:
25 August 2026
Published:
18 September 2026
Abstract: Climate extremes have become increasingly frequent and intense under a changing climate, posing significant challenges to water resources, agriculture, ecosystems, and socioeconomic development. Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable due to its strong dependence on rain-fed agriculture and its diverse climatic and topographic conditions. This study assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of extreme climate indices across Ethiopia using the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) for the period 1981–2022. Daily rainfall and temperature Grid data were analyzed to quantify trends, climatology, anomaly, variability, and spatial distributions of precipitation and temperature extremes. Rainfall and temperature indices were evaluated using mannkandell and sen’slope test, trend analysis and spatial interpolation techniques, and python tool used for plotting the figures. The results revealed considerable spatial and temporal variability in both precipitation and temperature extremes across Ethiopia. Temperature-related indices showed widespread warming, characterized by increasing frequencies of warm days and warm nights and declining occurrences of cool days and cold nights. Annual extreme maximum and minimum temperatures generally increased over most regions, indicating intensifying heat extremes. Rainfall extremes exhibited substantial regional heterogeneity, with increases in heavy rainfall intensity and extreme precipitation in some parts of western and southwestern Ethiopia, while other regions experienced longer dry spells and declining rainfall totals. These contrasting patterns suggest increasing risks of both floods and droughts depending on location. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Ethiopia has experienced significant changes in climate extremes during 1981–2022, with warming trends being more spatially consistent than changes in precipitation extremes. The study provides valuable information for climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, agricultural planning, and sustainable water resource management, while contributing to the understanding of regional climate variability in Ethiopia.
Abstract: Climate extremes have become increasingly frequent and intense under a changing climate, posing significant challenges to water resources, agriculture, ecosystems, and socioeconomic development. Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable due to its strong dependence on rain-fed agriculture and its diverse climatic and topographic conditions. This study as...
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