Assessing groundwater quality in selected mining Communities in the Central and Western Regions of Ghana.

Abstract

The pollution of groundwater sources is a major issue globally, and particularly for developing countries where the uncontrolled exploitation of natural mineral resources and human activities could lead to the pollution of water resources. The objective of this study was to examine the quality of groundwater in selected mining communities in the Central and Western regions of Ghana. A survey was conducted among the community residents to examine their perceptions of groundwater quality in the study area. A total of fifty (50) water samples collected from boreholes and wells in five mining communities; Ayanfuri, Abenabena, Nkonya, Forbinso, and Gyamang were analyzed for trace metals and physicochemical properties. The Water Quality Index (WQI) method was used to classify the various samples. Respondents expressed concerns of smell and salty taste in groundwater. There was also high arsenic (1.028 mg/l and 1.048 mg/L), iron (0.303 mg/L and 0.304 mg/l) and cadmium (0.189 mg/l and 0.191 mg/l) pollution in the study area which requires urgent attention due to the potential adverse human health effects associated with exposure to high levels of these trace metals. The study revealed high turbidity in some groundwater samples in the study area making them unhealthy for domestic use. In the WQI classification all the groundwater samples apart from Nkonya (Nk-w1, Nk-w2 and Nk-site w) which were considered poor water all were classified as good water. There is the need to control the levels of arsenic, iron, cadmium, and turbidity levels in groundwater in the study area, particularly in Nkonya. Community residents should be educated on the effects of groundwater pollution.