Water pollution in Africa.

Contamination of water can brought about by various human activities such as poor disposal of industrial effluent, dumping of plastic in waterbodies. 

Human sources of water may include freshwater waterbodies and groundwater.

Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.

In many rural and periurban areas in Africa, groundwater is perceived to be safe, and its sources such as wells and boreholes are relied on for drinking water.

However, groundwater is not as safe as it seems.

A study in South Africa shows that groundwater is heavily contaminated with high indicators of faecal pollution and elevated concentrations of chloride and fluoride ions.

The pollution happens because in many cases, waste water is managed onsite near groundwater abstraction points. Polluted groundwater may act as an environmental reservoir for bacteria and viruses which breeds new and emerging infectious diseases.

Therefore, it is necessary for the groundwater to be treated before consumption.

References 

Vhahangwele Masindiab & Spyros Foteinis

Groundwater contamination in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for

groundwater protection in developing countries, 2021

What is Ground water?

https://www.groundwater.org/get-informed/basics/groundwater.html