Assessment Of Ground Water Quality In Tuba And Kokrobite Townships In The Ga South Municipal Assembly (Gsma) In The Greater Accra Region
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Date
2018-07
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KNUST
Abstract
Investigations were conducted to assess the quality of borehole water in residential households at Tuba and Kokrobite communities in Ga south municipality, Ghana. Groundwater samples were collected from 30 boreholes, 15 each from Tuba and Kokrobite and for both wet and dry seasons.
The geographical locations of the boreholes were determined using global positioning system (GPS). Physico-chemical and bacteriological analysis were carried out on water samples collected from boreholes using processes outlined in the standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, and the examination of water for pollution control (WHO). The results showed that temperature, pH, turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, sulphate, fluoride, alkalinity, potassium, iron, colour, nitrates were within the recommended WHO standard for drinking water. However, some parameters including conductivity, phosphates, sodium and chloride exceeded the recommended limits. The bacteriological analysis indicated high levels of microbiological pollution indicator organisms; total coliform and faecal coliform with counts exceeding the recommended limit of 0 cfu/100ml for drinking water. The high faecal coliform and total coliform in most sampled water is an indication of possible influence by septic sewage from the septic tank and pit latrines close to the water source. The results showed that the respondents use the borehole water for various domestic purposes such as cooking (65%), bathing (90%), washing (75%), drinking (25%) and flushing (72%). It was observed that 85% of the respondents do not use the water for drinking purposes because it was saline. The study observed septic tanks and pit latrines as major significant contaminant sources of pollution around the water sources. The study therefore recommends that owners of the wells and boreholes should treat the ground water before use.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE