Investigation of the impact of salt and sand harvesting activities on the Timboni well field, Gongoni, Malindi District, Kenya

The area studied is a north-south oriented, V-shaped, clayey lagoonal depression bordered by Pleistocene sands on the west and Recent dune sands on the east. The freshwater aquifer in the area is the main source of potable water for the urban centres of Gongoni and Timboni and the main Mombasa Salt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental geology (Berlin) 2000-12, Vol.40 (1-2), p.99-110
Main Authors: OPIYO-AKECH, N, OLAGO, D. O, DINDI, E. W, NDEGE, M. M, NJUE, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Geochemistry
Hydrogeology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Kenya, Gongoni
Mineralogy
Pollution, environment geology
Silicates
Water geochemistry
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Summary:The area studied is a north-south oriented, V-shaped, clayey lagoonal depression bordered by Pleistocene sands on the west and Recent dune sands on the east. The freshwater aquifer in the area is the main source of potable water for the urban centres of Gongoni and Timboni and the main Mombasa Salt Works processing plant. The aim of the study was to look at the impact of sand harvesting, and possible saline contamination of the aquifer by activities at the nearby salt harvesting plant and by seawater intrusion. The major factor abetting pollution of the freshwater aquifer is the sand harvesting activity, which exposes the aquifer to the atmosphere. Extension of the salt works closer to the aquifer field, combined with high abstraction rates, may also lead to saline water intrusion and contamination of the aquifer.
ISSN:0943-0105
1432-0495
DOI:10.1007/s002540000192