HE Linda Isabelle^1,, DAKOUO Semite Jokebed^{1, 2}, GBAGBO Tchapé², KPAIBE Sawa André^{1, 2}, AMIN N’cho Christophe^{1, 2}

Zouan-Hounien is a town in western Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, and serves as the administrative seat of the Tonkpi region. The following villages are located within a 10 km radius of the town: Biétouo, Floleu, Krozialeu, Meantouo, Ouyatouo, Trogleu, and Ity a hamlet of approximately 1,600 inhabitants that is home to the Ity gold mine. Following a technical incident at the mine, a study was initiated to assess the potential impact of the incident on the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water in the aforementioned villages. Thirty-six water samples collected from wells, and boreholes equipped with hand pumps were analyzed using AFNOR methods. The results revealed a marked and multifaceted deterioration in the quality of water from hand-operated pumps and traditional wells. The physico-chemical parameters showed significant acidification (pH 4.1–6.5), high turbidity (up to 89 UNT), and high levels of ammonium and organic matter, reflecting a massive intake of particles and contaminants. The microbiological analyses revealed severe fecal contamination, with loads of total coliforms, E. coli, and Enterococcus faecalis well above the standards, making the water unfit for consumption. Heavy metal concentrations, particularly for lead (up to 95.54 μg/L) and cadmium (up to 45.4 μg/L), were well above international potability standards, indicating acute contamination compatible with a mine tailings release or an acid mine drainage event. The presence of cyanides at significant levels, although below regulatory limits, confirmed the direct influence of cyaniding activities. All the results highlight a mixed contamination of mining and environmental origin, affecting more strongly the wells than the manual pumps. These observations highlight the need for urgent health risk management, water treatment and environmental remediation measures, as well as enhanced analytical monitoring to prevent long-term impacts on riparian populations.

drinking water potability, mining pollution, heavy metals