Urban development across the world significantly alters potable water quality. Urban wastes pose a pollution threat to water quality and supply. In Bamenda City, there is increasing alterations of water sources by pollution with inadequate capacity to manage the increasing demand for quality potable water. Large amounts of wastes are dumped in nearby drains and stream channels. This article aims to examine the implications of urban development on water quality, anchored on the premise that urban development significantly affects water quality in Bamenda City. A sample of 300 questionnaires were administered, complemented by field observations and secondary data sources. Water Laboratory Tests to determine biological parameters, Inorganic chemicals: Calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonate, nitrites, nitrates, phosphate and Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, Mercury, copper, zinc, iron, aluminium based on WHO standards were done. Findings revealed Organoleptic properties for boreholes and well water were at acceptable limits and poses no danger. Physiochemical properties have pH values within the WHO acceptable limit (6.5-8.5), but higher in wet season (7.6) with concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3-, Cl-, and NH4+ above the acceptable levels especially in wells, and streams. Probable number of bacteria per 100ml for the water ranged from 3-1100+, which is not at an acceptable standard due to urban pollution. Specific bacteria identified included Enterobacteria spp, E. coli, Steptococcuss spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Staphylococcus spp and Vibrio spp. This shows a strong relationship between urban development and potable water supply. Water quality increases with improvement in urban development planning especially as urban potable water is a major resource for urban health care and sanitation. Planned urban development can ensure sustainable water quality supply in urbanising communities.
| Published in | Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 14, Issue 6) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12 |
| Page(s) | 175-189 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Impact, Management, Urban Development, Water Quality, Water Sources
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APA Style
Kinyui, N. C., Niba, M. L. F., Fon, F. L. (2025). Urban Development Implications on Water Quality in Bamenda City, Cameroon. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 14(6), 175-189. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12
ACS Style
Kinyui, N. C.; Niba, M. L. F.; Fon, F. L. Urban Development Implications on Water Quality in Bamenda City, Cameroon. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2025, 14(6), 175-189. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12
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Download@article{10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12,
author = {Nfor Constance Kinyui and Mary Lum Fonteh Niba and Fombe Lawrence Fon},
title = {Urban Development Implications on Water Quality in Bamenda City, Cameroon
},
journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {175-189},
doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20251406.12},
abstract = {Urban development across the world significantly alters potable water quality. Urban wastes pose a pollution threat to water quality and supply. In Bamenda City, there is increasing alterations of water sources by pollution with inadequate capacity to manage the increasing demand for quality potable water. Large amounts of wastes are dumped in nearby drains and stream channels. This article aims to examine the implications of urban development on water quality, anchored on the premise that urban development significantly affects water quality in Bamenda City. A sample of 300 questionnaires were administered, complemented by field observations and secondary data sources. Water Laboratory Tests to determine biological parameters, Inorganic chemicals: Calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonate, nitrites, nitrates, phosphate and Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, Mercury, copper, zinc, iron, aluminium based on WHO standards were done. Findings revealed Organoleptic properties for boreholes and well water were at acceptable limits and poses no danger. Physiochemical properties have pH values within the WHO acceptable limit (6.5-8.5), but higher in wet season (7.6) with concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3-, Cl-, and NH4+ above the acceptable levels especially in wells, and streams. Probable number of bacteria per 100ml for the water ranged from 3-1100+, which is not at an acceptable standard due to urban pollution. Specific bacteria identified included Enterobacteria spp, E. coli, Steptococcuss spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Staphylococcus spp and Vibrio spp. This shows a strong relationship between urban development and potable water supply. Water quality increases with improvement in urban development planning especially as urban potable water is a major resource for urban health care and sanitation. Planned urban development can ensure sustainable water quality supply in urbanising communities.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Urban Development Implications on Water Quality in Bamenda City, Cameroon AU - Nfor Constance Kinyui AU - Mary Lum Fonteh Niba AU - Fombe Lawrence Fon Y1 - 2025/11/22 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12 DO - 10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12 T2 - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science JF - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science JO - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science SP - 175 EP - 189 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-7993 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20251406.12 AB - Urban development across the world significantly alters potable water quality. Urban wastes pose a pollution threat to water quality and supply. In Bamenda City, there is increasing alterations of water sources by pollution with inadequate capacity to manage the increasing demand for quality potable water. Large amounts of wastes are dumped in nearby drains and stream channels. This article aims to examine the implications of urban development on water quality, anchored on the premise that urban development significantly affects water quality in Bamenda City. A sample of 300 questionnaires were administered, complemented by field observations and secondary data sources. Water Laboratory Tests to determine biological parameters, Inorganic chemicals: Calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonate, nitrites, nitrates, phosphate and Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, Mercury, copper, zinc, iron, aluminium based on WHO standards were done. Findings revealed Organoleptic properties for boreholes and well water were at acceptable limits and poses no danger. Physiochemical properties have pH values within the WHO acceptable limit (6.5-8.5), but higher in wet season (7.6) with concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3-, Cl-, and NH4+ above the acceptable levels especially in wells, and streams. Probable number of bacteria per 100ml for the water ranged from 3-1100+, which is not at an acceptable standard due to urban pollution. Specific bacteria identified included Enterobacteria spp, E. coli, Steptococcuss spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Staphylococcus spp and Vibrio spp. This shows a strong relationship between urban development and potable water supply. Water quality increases with improvement in urban development planning especially as urban potable water is a major resource for urban health care and sanitation. Planned urban development can ensure sustainable water quality supply in urbanising communities. VL - 14 IS - 6 ER -
Department of Geography and Planning, Faculty of Arts, The University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon
Department of Geography, Higher Teacher Training College, The University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon
Higher Institute of Transport and Logistics, The University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon
