Evaluation of environmental water monitoring compliance: a case study at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), Ahafo- Kenyasi
Loading...
Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
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.
Description
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.