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Evaluation of Stored Rainwater Quality in Basic Schools in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

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Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of stored rainwater in basic schools in the Tamale Metropolis, a semi-arid region of Ghana, which experiences persistent water scarcity. Sixty four stored rainwater samples were collected from eight rainwater harvesting facilities in eight basic schools in November and December, 2013, and analysed. Total coliform levels ranged from 1.1 × 101 to 1.2 × 103 cfu/100 ml with a mean of 208 ± 195 cfu/100 ml. The microbial load exceeded World Health Organisation’s (WHO) limit for potability. Heavy metal concentrations were within WHO standards except cadmium and lead. Drinking of stored rainwater can be deleterious to the health of pupils in the basic schools studied. It is therefore recommended that potable water should be provided in the basic schools in order to meet the millennium development goals.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Government of Ghana, for the provision of the Book and Research Allowance (GoG BRA), which was used in funding this study. Authors also wish to thank the staff of CSIR—Water Research Institute (WRI), Tamale, for water quality analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecotourism & Environmental Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana

    S. J. Cobbina, Y. P. Agoboh, A. B. Duwiejuah & N. Bakobie

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  1. S. J. Cobbina
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  2. Y. P. Agoboh
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  3. A. B. Duwiejuah
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  4. N. Bakobie
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Correspondence to S. J. Cobbina.

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Cobbina, S.J., Agoboh, Y.P., Duwiejuah, A.B. et al. Evaluation of Stored Rainwater Quality in Basic Schools in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. Water Qual Expo Health 7, 583–590 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0174-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-015-0174-6

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