None

The study area is located in the Sikasso Region of southern Mali, covering approximately 3680 square kilometers. The area's elevation decreases from south to north, with the lowest point being 305 meters above sea level (masl) in the north. The main river in the area is the Lotio River, which flows into the Bani River basin. The inhabitants of the area rely on groundwater as their source of water. The minimum and maximum temperatures range from 12.3°C to 26.8°C and 28.8°C to 39.9°C, respectively, with an average temperature of 27.4°C. The climate is classified as part of the Soudano-Sahelian zone and experiences a dry season (November to May) dominated by a dry wind from the Sahara (harmattan) and a rainy season (June to October) with a wet wind from the Guinean Gulf (monsoon). The average annual precipitation is approximately 1131 mm/year, and the average annual potential evapotranspiration is around 2060 mm/year using the Blaney-Criddle method. The geology of the area consists mainly of sandstone and dolerite formations, with a predominant Tabular Infra-Cambrian fractured sandstone formation that can reach depths of up to 100 meters for groundwater.