Abstract
Artisanal small-scale mining has been part of Ghana’s history, but recent public outcry on the devastating impacts of the phenomenon on water bodies, due to expansion in the sector, has led to clamp downs by various governments on the activity. This has called for evaluation of the water quality of the South-western Rivers System, which are small-scale mining endemic areas. Thirty-five river samples were collected in July 2018 and were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters using procedures outlined in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewaters. The results revealed that the rivers are polluted with Fe and Cu, accompanied by very high levels of turbidity (mean = 488 NTU) and total suspended solids (TSS) (mean = 382 mg/L). NH3–N, PO4–P, BOD, and DO levels indicated mild pollution in the waters. Pollution of the rivers is attributable to impacts of artisanal small-scale mining, surface run-off as a result of high intensity rainfall, anthropogenic (indiscriminate waste disposal) and geogenic factors such as dissolution of minerals from the soil zone. It was observed that, if not strictly regulated, turbidity and TSS levels arising mainly from illegal small-scale mining activities could lead to shutdowns of a number of Ghana Water Company Limited treatment plants, leading to water supply challenges in the study area.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Availability of data and materials
Data is available on request.
References
Adiyiah, J., Aboagye-larbi, H., & Acheampong, M. A. (2013). Comparative assessment of the upstream and downstream water qualities of river Tano in Ghana. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, A2, 283–292
Adomako, D., Osae, S., Akiti, T. T., Faye, S., & Maloszewski, P. (2011). Geochemical and isotopic studies of groundwater conditions in the Densu river basin of Ghana. Environmental Earth Sciences, 62, 1071–1084
Afum, B. O., & Owusu, C. K. (2016). Heavy metal pollution in the Birim river of Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 4(3), 65–74
Ansa-Asare, O. D., Duah, A. A., Owusu, B. K., Amisigo, B., Mainoo, P. A., Entsua-Mensah, R. (2013). Impact of small-scale mining on the water resources of the Pra River basin. CSIR-WRI Technical report, Accra, Ghana, 27
APHA. (2012). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. In E. W. Rice, R. B. Baird, A. D. Eaton, & L. S. Clesceri (Eds.), American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF) (22nd edition). Washington, D.C., USA
Asare-Donkor, N. K., Ofosu, J. O., & Adimado, A. A. (2018). Hydrochemical characteristics of surface water and ecological risk assessment of sediments from settlements within the Birim River basin in Ghana. Environmental Systems Research, 7(9), 1–17
Asmah, M. H., Hodgson, I. O. A., Cobbina, S. J., & Ablordey, A. A. (2013). Environmental quality assessment of upper Birim river (Ghana). Journal of Applied Science and Technology (JAST), 18, 55–62
Attiogbe, F. & Nkansah, A. (2017). The impact of mining on the water resources in Ghana: Newmont case study at Birem North District (New Abirem). Energy and Environmental Research, 7(2), 27–36.
Attua, E. M., & Annan., S.T., Nyame, F. . (2014). Water quality analysis of rivers used as drinking sources in artisanal gold mining communities of the Akyem-Abuakwa area: A multivariate statistical approach. Ghana Journal of Geography, 6, 24–41
Boamponsem, L. K., Adam, J. I., Dampare, S. B., Owusu-Ansah, E., & Addae, G. (2010). Heavy metals level in streams of Tarkwa gold mining area of Ghana. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2(3), 504–527
Chapman, D. (1996). Water quality assessments - A guide to use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring, second ed. E&FN Spon, an imprint of Chapman & Hall, London
Dasgupta, M., & Yildiz, Y. (2016). Assessment of biochemical oxygen demand as indicator of organic load in wastewaters of Morris County, New Jersey, USA. Journal of Environmental and Analytical Toxicology, 6(3), 1–3
Gabrielyan, A. V., Shahnazaryan, G. A., & Minasyan, S. H. (2018). Distribution and identification of sources of heavy metals in the Voghji river basin impacted by mining activities (Armenia). Journal of Chemistry, 2018, 1–9
Galamsey threatening water supply - W/R GWCL Manager (2020, January 21). Citi News Room. Retrieved from https://citinewsroom.com/2020/01/galamsey-threatening-water-supply-w-r-gwcl-manager/. (23 January 2020)
Ghana Statistical Service. (2012). 2010 Population and Housing Census, summary report of final results. Accra-Ghana: Sakoa Press Ltd. Retrieved from https://www.statsghana.gov.gh. Accessed 20 February 2020
Graphic Communications Group Ltd. (2019). Residents of parts of 4 regions experience water shortage in: Daily Graphic, Thursday, May 9, 2019, pg. 33
Gyau-Boakye, P., & Tumbulto, J. W. (2006). Comparison of rain- fall and runoff in the humid south-western and the semiarid northern savannah zone in Ghana. African Journal of Science and Technology, Science and Engineering Series, 7, 64–72
Hilson, G., & Potter, C. (2003). Why is illegal gold mining activity so ubiquitous in rural Ghana ?. Blackwell
Hirdes, W., Senger, R., Adjei, J., Efa, Loh, G. and Tettey, A. (1993), “Explanatory Notes for the Geological Map Southwestern Ghana 1:100000”, Geolosches Jarbuuch, Hanover Press, B83, 139 pp
Kesse, G. O. (1985). The mineral and rock resources of Ghana (p. 610). Balkema
Leube, A., Hirdes, W., Mauer, R., & Kesse, G. O. (1990). The early proterozoic Birimian supergroup of Ghana and some aspects of its associated gold mineralisation. Precambrian Research, 46, 136–165
Li, H., Liu, L., Li, M., & Zhang, X. (2013). Effects of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and flow rate on phosphorus release processes at the sediment and water interface in storm sewer. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry,, 2013, 1–7
Loh, Y. S. A., Akurugu, B. A., Manu, E., & Aliou, A. (2019). Assessment of groundwater quality and the main controls on its hydrochemistry in some Voltaian and basement aquifers, northern Ghana. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 10, 1–13
Maghanga, J. K., Kituyi, J. L., Kisinyo, P. O., & Ng’etich, W. K. . (2013). Impact of nitrogen fertilizer applications on surface water nitrate levels within a Kenyan tea plantation. Journal of Chemistry, 2013, 1–5
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. (2018). Forest investment programme (FIP)- enhancing natural forests and agroforest landscapes. Additional financing. updated environmental and social management framework (ESMF)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2008). 2008 pollution prevention evaluation report. https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2008/mandated/080481.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2020
Rajaee, M., Obiri, S., Green, A., Long, R., Cobbina, J. S., Nartey, V., Buck, D., Antwi, E., & Basu, N. (2015). Integrated assessment of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ghana- Part 2. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12, 8971–9011
Shrestha, A. K., & Basnet, N. (2018). The correlation and regression analysis of physicochemical parameters of river water for the evaluation of percentage contribution to electrical conductivity. Journal of Chemistry, 2018, 1–9
Sunkari, E. D., Abu, M., & Bayowobie, P. S. (2019). Hydrogeochemical appraisal of groundwater quality in the Ga west municipality, Ghana: Implication for domestic and irrigation purposes. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 8, 501–511
Ward, M. H., Jones, R. R., Brender, J. D., Kok, T. M., Weyer, P. J., Nolan, B. T., Villanueva, C. M., & Breda, S. G. (2018). Drinking water nitrate and human health: An updated review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, 1–31
Water Resources Commission (WRC). (2003). Ghana raw water criteria and guidelines series. Report prepared for Ghana Water Resources Commission by CSIR-Water Research Institute. WRI/TR No. 556.114 COU WRI/CAR No. 133
Water Resources Commission (WRC). (2012). Tano river basin - Integrated water resources management plan
WHO (World Health Organisation). (2017). Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first addendum, ISBN 978–92–4–154995–0. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254637/9789241549950-eng.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 13 March 2020
Yidana, S. M., Alfa, B., Banoeng-yakubo, B., & Addai, M. O. (2014). Simulation of groundwater flow in a crystalline rock aquifer system in Southern Ghana – an evaluation of the effects of increased groundwater abstraction on the aquifers using a transient groundwater flow model. Hydrological Processes, 28, 1084–1094
Yidana, S. M., Bawoyobie, P., Sakyi, P., & Fynn, O. F. (2018). Evolutionary analysis of groundwater flow: Application of multivariate statistical analysis to hydrochemical data in the Densu Basin, Ghana. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 138, 167–176
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by STAR Ghana through Media coalition against galamsey and CSIR-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), Ghana. The authors thank the laboratory staff of Environmental Chemistry and Sanitation Engineering and Surface Water Divisions of CSIR-WRI for their technical assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karikari, A.Y., Duah, A.A., Akurugu, B.A. et al. Assessing the impacts of artisanal mining on the quality ofvf South-western Rivers System in Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 193, 715 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09515-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09515-y