Akuapem North: Hydrogeologists discover toxic chemicals in groundwater

Hydrogeologists at Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in the Eastern Region are alarmed at the high proportion of heavy metals found in groundwater in Akuapem North and Okere Districts.

Groundwater samples collected from different farming communities for water quality laboratory test conducted by the Water Resources Institute for the CWSA identified the high presence of cyanide, iron, ammonia, and copper in the groundwaters.

As a result, two boreholes have been cabbed for further investigations while others are being observed although later test by the Ghana Water Company Limited gave positive results within standard water quality parameters.

Further studies are underway to establish the exact cause of a discharge of the suspected pollutants into the groundwater in the two Districts, a Senior Hydrogeologist, Joseph Clifford -Wirrom, suspects anthropogenic activities including misapplication of agrochemicals, and increasing indiscriminate discharge of wastewater.

“What we have to discuss with the districts is the education of our farmers, the way they use chemicals is what is getting into the groundwater. Our water bodies are becoming very contaminated”

These findings were made known at a meeting organized by Plan International Ghana for its Key implementing partners including CWSA to share and learn from successes and challenges encountered so far in the implementation of the 2,247,500 Euro -Plan Germany Office Funded project dubbed “Rural, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (RWASH)” in the 36 beneficiary communities in Akuapem North Municipality and Okere in the Eastern, Agona East District in Central and Afadzato South District in Volta region.

The Senior Hydrogeologist, Joseph Clifford -Wirrom who made the presentation added that “based on the water quality issues, we have also made certain recommendations.

The iron levels here (two Districts) are so high, you can only mechanize it when you buy an iron filtration system and attach to the mechanize system. It is very expensive therefore constructing Iron removal plants and installing them is the best and most economical system for use in our communities”

The Project Manager, Plan International Ghana, William Domapielle said in spite of the challenges in the groundwater quality, the NGO is still committed to providing safe drinking water for the people.

“On the issue of iron you need to construct iron removal plant and all of that is an additional cost but that is a challenge and we are in the communities to solve their problems so we will do it for them to get safe water ”

On his part, the Business Development Manager for Plan International Ghana, Joseph Appiah called for collective public education to curb the widespread environmental pollution.

“The use of weedicides, Pesticide is a very very big problem. It is one of the problems we’ve inherited. It requires a concerted effort. We need to engage with the various stakeholders -MoFA, NCCE, and all allied organizations that able to do social mobilization for continues education and sensitization and also monitoring the change as we move on. it is a threat to our very existence and we need to draw government’s attention to come out with a blue print to nip in the bud”

Groundwater is a major fresh water resources which is free from impurities due to its natural filtration through soil and sediments but over the years, quality and quantity of groundwater is deteriorating at a very fast rate due to anthropogenic activites .

The dependence on groundwater continue to increase through construction of boreholes and wells as a result of high levels of pollution of water bodies. It is therefore imperative that,thec emerging trend of pollution of groundwater provocs policy intervention by government.