Spatial Variation of Water Quality in the Densu River Basin, Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality, Ghana

D.e Sedenkor ,Elaine T Lawson ,Mynepalli K C Sridhar ,C.o Ikporukpo

doi:10.7176/jees/9-10-10

Abstract

The Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality stretch of the Densu River Basin serves a population of 86,000 and flows into major river basins in parts of Accra. The study assesses the spatial variability of the physico-chemical quality of the Densu River Basin at seven selected points with reference to WHO guideline standards. Water samples were collected and analyzed from November 2015 to June 2016 to ascertain the variations in water quality parameters with respect to physicochemical parameters and selected heavy metals. Analysis of water quality showed electrical conductivity of 214.00µs/cm - 369.00µs/cm, total dissolved solids 235 to 658 mg/l, exceeding the WHO guideline values at some sampling locations. Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and iron indicated that at some locations exceeded the WHO guideline limits while copper, manganese and mercury concentrations where found to be within threshold at all locations during the period. Keywords: anthropogenic, densu river, spatial variation, water quality DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-10-10 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

Highlights

Water quality plays a significant role in the maintenance of a well-balanced ecosystem
The mean pH recorded at this location during the study period was relatively high with a value of 7.9 ± 0.085 which was succeeded by a mean pH of 8.14±0.290 at location P2
4.0 Conclusion Following the discussions in this study, it can be concluded that various forms of anthropogenic activities such as farming, indiscriminate waste and sewage disposal, sand winning and dredging activities have affected the quality of the water resource over the period

Summary

Introduction

Water quality plays a significant role in the maintenance of a well-balanced ecosystem. Regular monitoring of water bodies with mandatory number of parameters in relation to water quality prevents the outbreak of diseases and occurrence of hazards. The quality of drinking water is a powerful environmental determinant of health and for that matter water safety plan is a foundation for the prevention and control of waterborne diseases (WHO, 2011). Physicochemical and bacteriological qualities of water for drinking and for other socio-economic activities are considered to be some of the concerns of both the general public and water suppliers. Extensive pollution of the Densu River Basin was reported as a result of various anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture, industrial as well as municipal sources in the form of garbage and wastewater. With increasing scarcity of treated public water supply, fresh river water has become the alternative source for these purposes (Bruggen, 2006)

Methods

Results

Conclusion