Chemical and Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water Sources in the Mining - Impacted Amansie West District.

Abstract

Ground and surface water sources are considered the primary sources of drinking water supply worldwide. However, human activities have compromised the quality of these water bodies by altering their properties such as physicochemical and microbial characteristics as well as heavy metals contamination. Seventy-three drinking water samples (boreholes, well, surface and tap) obtained from different sampling point in Amansie West District, in the Ashanti Region, Ghana were subjected to physicochemical, microbiological and heavy metal analyses. Temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, nitrates, nitrites, sulphates, chlorides, ammonia, ammonium, fluoride and pH were studied for physicochemical quality by Palintest procedures. Microbiological analyses were applied according to the Most Probable Method. Heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, lead, copper and zinc concentrations were studied using microwave-plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer. Result indicates that the all-physicochemical qualities studied were all within World Health Organization (WHO) limit. Microbial load recorded ranged from 14.44 - 95.85cfu/l which was higher than World Health Organization (WHO) limit (0 cfu/l). Heavy metals concentrations, As for tap water (12.313 µg/l), borehole (12.348 µg/l), surface water (29.250 µg/l) and well water (18.143 µg/l), Cr for tap water (47.66 µg/l), borehole (61.37 µg/l), surface water (247.7µg/l) and well water (343.30 µg/l) and Pb for tap water (457.50 µg/l), borehole (303.80 µg/l), surface water (276.65 µg/l) and well water (352.29 µg/l) had their mean values higher than World Health Organization for all the water sources except Zn and Cu. The determined microbiological qualities and heavy metal content of all the samples were not suitable for drinking and may pose threat to public health. Water from the study area should be treated before drinking and other domestic use.