Evaluation of environmental water monitoring compliance: a case study at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), Ahafo- Kenyasi

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2013
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Abstract
Surface and ground water monitoring data of the Newmont Ghana Gold Ahafo Mine Concession area were evaluated for the period 2007-2012. Data on some physico-chemical, nutrient and metal levels from 8 monitoring sites were studied. Results of the study revealed that many of the parameters studied were within the regulatory limits. However, turbidity and TSS recorded high values in some of the surface waters. pH of some of the sites were slightly acidic especially upstream groundwater number eight (GWC8S) but did not change significantly from the baseline data. Nutrients levels in some of the surface waters were naturally high. The research findings also made it abundantly clear that Arsenic and Iron were of concern in some of the surface and ground waters, but have not been affected significantly by the mine or deviated from the baseline and that the presence of these heavy metals could primarily be attributed to natural geological and climatological conditions but not from the mine. Mercury levels of all the water bodies under study were within the regulated limits (Ghana EPA and WHO guidelines) with the exception of few that were detected during the baseline and the operational period.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Theoritical and Applied Biology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science.
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