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Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in the Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley areas of southern Ghana using GIS-based and multivariate statistical techniques

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Abstract

Evaluating groundwater quality is one of the most important tools for groundwater sustainability which offers empirical and decisive information for water management especially in mining areas where water pollution is of great concern. This study considers groundwater quality in two mining-dominanted districts in Ghana: Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley for public, domestic, and irrigation purposes. A total of 101 groundwater samples were collected for 16 analytical assessments. The results showed that except for pH and NO3− where 11% and 2% of the samples were, respectively, below and exceeded WHO guideline values, the other assessed variables—alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), PO42−, EC, Na+, HCO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, K+, F−, B, SO42−, and total hardness (TH) were within the WHO recommendations. The residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC) computation showed that all the samples were not suitable for irrigation. However, 5%, 89%, 100%, and 80% of the samples based on Na%, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI) and magnesium hazard (MH) outputs were excellent irrigable water sources. The factor analysis showed a dominance of pH, EC, alkalinity, and anions (HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, PO42−, and F−) and soluble cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+) including B. The Piper diagram presented high HCO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and Na + K loadings. The relationship between the studied elements from the covariance–variance matrix and factor analysis strongly suggests that the water sources were within similar geological formations and characteristics, pedogeological processes, and subject to similar anthropogenic activities. Generally, nearly all the groundwater sources were suitable for public, domestic, and irrigation purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

    Raymond Webrah Kazapoe

  2. Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana

    Millicent Obeng Addai

  3. Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah

  4. Department of Environmental Science, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana

    Paul Dankwa

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  1. Raymond Webrah Kazapoe
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Correspondence to Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah.

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Kazapoe, R.W., Addai, M.O., Amuah, E.E.Y. et al. Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in the Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley areas of southern Ghana using GIS-based and multivariate statistical techniques. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 9, 141 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-023-00903-5

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