Potability of Some Hand Dug Well Water in Some Selected Communities in Obuasi
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Date
2012-10-21
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Abstract
When water is talked of, its quality should not be undermined since it has great effects on man. Obuasi has been one of the towns whose water quality is always questioned due to the mining and other activities of theindigenes. It wastherefore necessary to ascertainhow
potable some sources (precisely wellwater) of water for drinking were.In this work, a total
of 27 well water samples were collected from three selected communities(Tutuka,
Aboagyekrom, Kwabrafoso) in Obuasi township between February and April.The
locations of the wells were considered during the choice of wells especially those close to
waste water channels. The samples were analyzed formicrobiological parameters such as
faecal coliform, total coliform, total heterotrophic bacteria and enterococci. The loads of
total and faecal coliforns were as high as 9.5×105 and 2.2×105cfu100m/L respectively in
some of the samples. Total heterotrophic bacteria were also present, with the least of
6.0×101cfu1m/L and the highest of 6.9×105cfu1m/L but enterococci were absent in all the
water samples. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, Conductivity, Alkalinity, Total
Dissolved solids, Total Suspended solids, Turbidity, Cyanide, Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium
and lead were analyzed. pH of the samples were mostly high and ranged between 4.16 and
6.97. The samples recorded turbidity and total suspended solids level between 0.00 and
79.50 and between 1.00 and 4.00 respectively. Total dissolved solids and conductivity
levels were all below the WHO guideline values of 1000mg/L and 1500μS/cm
respectively. Most of the samples had their alkalinity level below the WHO guideline
value except samples from KWA7 which recorded the highest value of 2552.50mg/L.In
terms of metals Lead concentration in the samples of well water ranged between 0.02mg/L
and 0.18mg/L with the least exceeding the WHO guideline value for Lead
(0.01mg/L).Cadmium also recorded some loads only within the first month (February) and
ranged between 0.001mg/L and 0.020mg/L with most of its well waters exceeding the
WHO standard value of 0.003mg/L. Concentration of Mercury were also high ranging
from 0.00mg/L to 0.58mg/L exceeding the WHO guideline value of 0.01mg/L. As and CN
were absent in all the samples.Considering the results it observed thatthe well waters were
contaminated by microbes, trace metals and other suspended and dissolved solids. The
accumulative nature of these metals could be very harmful to individuals who use these
waters as potable water. In conclusion, all the water samples could be recommended for
washing and flushing of toilets but not for potable water.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science