Determination of potentially favorable zones for the setting up of manual boreholes from multicriterion analysis and gis: case of Cote d’Ivoire
This study was carried out within the framework of a project introduced by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Indeed, in order to respond to the increasing needs for boreholes for drinking water supply, adapted solutions must be envisaged. Among these, the realization of shallow boreholes (less than 40 m) turns out to be one of the possible solutions to satisfy the water requirements of certain localities of the Ivory Coast. This study was thus undertaken with the aim of locating zones where the presence of manual boreholes would be favorable. The study used geological, hydrogeological and geomorphological data and data relative to existing water sources. The integration of all these data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) allowed the elaboration of a map of zones favorable for the supply of groundwater through shallow wells. They correspond to wide zones of crystalline substratum covered by a weathered zone of sandy-clays of significant thickness (20–30 m), a factor that is particularly favorable for manual boreholes. We also identified a partially favorable level, which becomes favorable or very favorable in the river valleys with low slope (< 3 °). The least favorable sectors are situated in the northeastern and southwestern zones and in the mountainous zone of Man. It is also important to consider that the lower elevation zones potentially present more favorable conditions, but we notice that the population is more concentrated in higher elevation zones because of the risk of flooding and unfavorable conditions in the hollows related to the presence of stagnant water.