Estimating the vulnerability of groundwater resources to diffuse pollution in highlands areas: review of the literature and critical analysis (highlands of Cameroon)

Abstract Groundwater is a major resource for drinking water, especially in developing countries, where it is less expensive to treat than surface water. Today, the resource is highly susceptible to pollution, particularly as a result of human activity. This review was based on a literature review and critical analysis of models for estimating the groundwater vulnerability. The results show that the deepest porous aquifers are the least susceptible to pollution, whereas those in karstic and fissured environments are susceptible, whatever their depth. Pollution usually arises from human activity. Critical analysis of the literature shows that existing methods are developed in specific environmental contexts. Given the variability of factors in space and time, these methods do not take the intrinsic realities of all natural settings into account adequately and are not perfectly applicable in all environments. This highlights the need to develop appropriate models for each environment, such as that of the highlands in countries such as Cameroon.