Physico-chemical characterization and metallic trace element concentrations in surface waters of East Cameroon: case studies of the Tidamba watercourse in Bertoua and the Kambele mining basin in Batouri

The physico-chemical characterization and metallic trace element concentrations in surface waters from East Cameroon have been addressed. Six surface water samples were collected in both sites of Tidamba at Bertoua and Kambele mining basin at Batouri in order to perform hydrogen potential (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solid (TSS) as well as chemical concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and K at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) laboratories in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The results revealed that these waters are less acidic with average pH equal to 6.28 and 5.66 at Tidamba and Kambele respectively. The mean EC is low (47.5 µs/cm at Tidamba and 67.93 µs/cm at Kambele). The average TSS is very high (46 and 4286.67 mg/L), taken in the same order. Kambele’s surface waters are more concentrated in TSS than those of Tidamba due to the intense small-scale mining activities in the area. The average grade of trace element Zn (0.03 and 0. 00 mg/L), Cu (0.01 and 0.01 mg/L), Mn (0.11and 0.07 mg/L), and Fe (1.5 and 0.22 mg/L) are low at both sites of Tidamba and Kambele respectively. Meanwhile, the content of K is high (2.98 and 4.21 mg/L). According to WHO standards, physico-chemical characteristics of the surface waters of East Cameroon cannot be recommended for domestic use without any treatment.