In the heart of Burkina Faso, a gold rush has been underway since the 2000s, with over a hundred mining sites sprouting up across the landscape. While this boom has brought economic prosperity, it has also led to a surge in waste generation, often discharged untreated into the environment. This scenario has raised critical concerns about water quality and public health, particularly in semi-arid regions where water is a precious commodity. Enter Sidkeita Aissa Nacanabo, a researcher from the LOMC Laboratory at the Université Le Havre Normandie in France, who has developed a novel water quality index (WQI) tailored to the unique challenges of a gold mining area in Bam Province, Burkina Faso.
Nacanabo’s study, published in the journal ‘Hydrology’ (which translates to ‘Water Science’ in English), is a beacon of hope for improving pollution monitoring and management in mining environments. The research team collected surface and groundwater samples between 2021 and 2024, analyzing a plethora of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. The findings were alarming: several parameters, including pH, turbidity, nitrates, sulphates, total iron, aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, cyanide, and total and faecal coliforms, exceeded international drinking water standards.
“The combined effects of these contaminants pose a significant long-term risk to ecosystems and human health,” Nacanabo emphasized. The study employed geospatial techniques to pinpoint the main contamination sources: domestic wastewater, industrial and artisanal mining, and agricultural runoff. By tracking the evolution of these parameters in relation to soil occupation dynamics and geological structures, the researchers were able to distinguish key parameters associated with discharges.
The tailored WQI developed by Nacanabo’s team is a game-changer for both surface water and groundwater monitoring. It provides an integrated tool for classifying and monitoring water quality in mining environments, supporting evidence-based decision-making in the management of tailing dams, environmental protection, and public health.
The implications of this research are far-reaching, particularly for the energy sector. As mining activities continue to expand, so does the need for robust water management strategies. Nacanabo’s WQI offers a practical solution for assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of mining operations, ensuring sustainable practices that benefit both the industry and local communities.
“This study is a significant step forward in our understanding of water quality in mining areas,” Nacanabo concluded. “It provides a framework for developing site-specific WQIs that can be applied globally, helping to protect water resources and promote sustainable development.”
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and resource depletion, innovative solutions like Nacanabo’s WQI are more crucial than ever. By bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application, this study paves the way for a future where mining and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.