Assessment of surface waters and pollution impacts in Southern Ghana

Enoch Bessah,Abdulganiy O Raji,Alexandre Strapasson,Sampson K Agodzo,Emmanuel Donkor,Olalekan J Taiwo,Olusola O Ololade

doi:10.2166/nh.2021.051

Abstract

Abstract Illegal mining and inappropriate use of agrochemicals have exacerbated surface water pollution in Ghana. The quality of water has changed, and knowledge of their current condition is important for formulating policies to conserve the country's water bodies. This study assessed the quality of surface waters in Ghana's Pra River Basin. A survey of 344 local farmers randomly sampled was conducted and a physicochemical analysis of 33 water samples collected from 25 rivers in the basin. Boreholes are the main source of drinking water for 85% of farmers, and they assessed water quality by its appearance. Rainwater provides over 50% of the water needed by the respondents for domestic use. River water was mainly used for crop production and only secondarily for domestic use. At more than 80% of the sampled sites, pH, Fe and P were above the WHO recommended values, while Pb was exceeded at 30% of the sites. Cu, Hg, As and Fe were above permissible levels for irrigation, especially near the mining areas. The poor quality of river water makes it unusable despite its availability. A more effective and efficient land-use policy focusing on buffer zone protection is recommended to minimise water quality degradation in the basin.

Highlights

Freshwater is undergoing a series of changes due to both natural and anthropogenic activities exacerbated by climate change (Krysanova et al 2005) with dire consequences, such as water scarcity and declining quality
This study aims to inform about the status of clean water for food production, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) number 6 and number 3 as outlined in the United Nations’ Agenda 2030
They judged the cleanliness of water by its appearance; water available for domestic activities mainly from boreholes is perceived as clean compared to river sources

Summary

Introduction

Freshwater is undergoing a series of changes due to both natural and anthropogenic activities exacerbated by climate change (Krysanova et al 2005) with dire consequences, such as water scarcity and declining quality. Inappropriate sanitation practices are one of the most significant causes of water pollution worldwide, especially in developing countries (Sun et al 2021). Water is an important driver of economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as it is an essential natural resource for agriculture, manufacturing, health and mining. The constant use of agrochemicals in agriculture contaminate fresh water bodies and the environment (Montanarella et al 2016). The anthropogenic influence is exacerbated by the rapid growth of artisanal and small-scale mining activities in SSA, especially in Ghana (IGF 2018)

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