Physico-chemical quality of drinking water of Mpohor, Mpohor-Fiase District of the Western Region, Ghana
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Date
2015-04-23
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Abstract
Physico-chemical quality of drinking water from Mpohor was conducted between January
2012 to September 2012. The study was to ascertain the concentration of the water quality
parameters were within the WHO specification. The drinking water sources were analysed to
assess the differences that existed between them, storage tank water and its supply lines and
to assure of the quality of the water for drinking. Ten (10) sampling sites made up of four (4)
boreholes, four (4) hand dug wells and two (2) points on the town distribution network were
selected for the study. The parameters included physical (pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS),
Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Electrical Coductivity (E.C.), Colour and Turbidity) ,
chemical ( Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulphate, Fluoride,
Calcium, Magnesium and Chloride) and trace metals Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Arsenic
(As) and Lead (Pb). A total of 50 samples were collected during the study duration made of
one (1) sample from every site per sampling cycle. Significant statistical differences were
found between concentration values for borehole and hand dug well sou rces for calcium,
iron, sulphate, chloride, nitrate, total alkalinity, hardness, pH, total dissolved solids and
electrical conductivity. Results showed hand dug well (HDW) sources (pH range 5.38 to
5.65) were slightly acidic compared to borehole water sources (pH range 6.45 to 6.67). Iron
concentration values for borehole water (Fe range 0.17 to 0.58 mg/L) were relatively high
compared to HDW sources (Fe range 0.05 to 0.18 mg/L). The iron values reflected in the
high turbidity (ranging from 2.8 to 9.5 mg/L) and colour (1.25 to 25 mg/L) values for
borehole water whereas HDW sources recorded minimal values for the two parameters with
results ranging from 1.8 to 4.4 mg/L and 0 to 8.75 mg/L respectively. Borehole water also
showed to be fresher than well water sources indicated by low conductivity (range 235 to 289
µS/cm) and TDS (range 128 to 154 mg/L) concentrations whereas HDW sources recorded
276 to 339 µS/cm and 151 to 175 mg/L respectively. Results for total hardness and alkalinity
iv
for borehole ranged from 87 to 103 mg/L and 90 to 105 mg/L respectively whereas that for
HDW ranged between 59 to 68 mg/L and 24 to 40 mg/L respectively. Hand dug well sources
were relatively softer suggesting lower buffering characteristics exhibited by their low
alkalinity. Variations between the means of concentration values for magnesium, manganese,
fluoride, phosphates, nitrite, total suspended solids, turbidity and colour for the borehole and
HDW sources were found to be statistically insignificant. Results for fluorine ranged from 0
to 0.24 mg/L for HDW sources whilst that for borehole ranged from 0 to 0.12 mg/L. Results
recorded for manganese for borehole sources ranged from 0.03 to 0.14 mg/L and HDW
sources ranged from 0.02 to 0.08 mg/L for the parameter. Analytical results showed
distribution water had improved concentration values chiefly low iron and several other
parameters due to settling of the particles in the overhead storage tanks. The overhead tank
thus needs to be washed on regular schedule, at least every 3 month s. Based on the research
findings, the drinking water sources in the Mpohor township have safe levels of physic -chemical water quality parameters and are thus safe for human consumption
Description
A thesis Submitted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of the degree
of
Master of Science (Environmental Science),2014