Assessment of concentration levels of contaminants in groundwater of the Soutpansberg region, Limpopo Province, South Africa
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Groundwater contributions towards improved food security and human health depend on
the level of contaminants in groundwater resources. Many people in rural areas use groundwater for
drinking purposes without treatment and knowledge of contaminant levels in such waters, owing to
parachute research in which research outputs are not shared with communities. This study argues
that parachute research exposes groundwater users to health hazards and threatens the food security
of communities. Concentration levels of contaminants were measured to ascertain suitability of
groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. A total of 124 groundwater quality samples
from 12 boreholes and 2 springs with physiochemical data from 1995 to 2017 were assessed. This
study found high concentration levels of contaminants, such as F, NO3
, Cl, and total dissolved
solids, in certain parts of the studied area. In general, groundwater was deemed suitable for drinking
purposes in most parts of the studied area.
Description
Keywords
Groundwater quality, Parachute research, Human health, Food security, Limpopo province
Citation
Lalumbe, L., & Kanyerere, T. (2022). Assessment of concentration levels of contaminants in groundwater of the Soutpansberg region, Limpopo province, South Africa . Water (Switzerland), 14(9),1354. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091354