Assessment of the physical and chemical quality of groundwater in developed rural areas: health and environmental issues in the municipality of Koudougou, Burkina Faso

In rural Sahelian territories, groundwater represents the main source of drinking water supply. However, the physicochemical quality of groundwater abstracted from boreholes implemented within rural development projects remains insufficiently documented, even though it is a key factor for the environmental and health sustainability of such investments. This study aims to assess the physicochemical quality of groundwater from two boreholes constructed under the Emergency Territorial Development and Resilience Project (PUDTR) in the municipality of Koudougou, Central-West Burkina Faso, and to analyze their environmental and territorial implications. The methodology is based on water sampling conducted in July 2025 during the rainy season, followed by physicochemical analyses carried out in an accredited laboratory. The analyzed parameters include pH, temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, major ions, nitrogen compounds, iron, and nutrients. The results were interpreted through comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water quality guidelines, combined with a geographical approach integrating environmental context and territorial dynamics. The results indicate that all analyzed parameters comply with WHO guideline values, reflecting good overall groundwater quality. The waters show low mineralization, low nitrate and iron concentrations, and no significant chemical pollution, despite the agricultural context and the active groundwater recharge period. However, the low buffering capacity of the waters highlights their potential vulnerability to future anthropogenic pressures. These findings provide a valuable baseline for sustainable territorial planning and groundwater management in rural areas benefiting from hydraulic infrastructure projects.