Assessing groundwater quality: a case study in Ghana Talensi district

Abstract

Because most life processes are directly or indirectly related to water, people are investigating on the various sources of drinking water supply. Surface water and groundwater are the most common sources of water for domestic and other uses. The availability of safe and sufficient drinking water in developing countries’ rural and many urban areas is critical. Groundwater has become the primary source of drinking water supply in northern Ghana, particularly in rural areas. Tongo, in northern Ghana, is entirely dependent on groundwater for its drinking water supply. The quality of groundwater from 15 boreholes and open well samples was assessed in this study. The primary goals of the research are to assess the quality of groundwater for drinking and to determine the distribution of major ions in groundwater and the factors that control them. Groundwater physicochemical parameters were within the WHO guidelines limit. However, coliform bacteria were found in some groundwater sources. Anthropogenic, natural, and ion exchange processes were also identified as controlling groundwater major ion distribution. Insanitary conditions were identified as potential sources of contamination during field observations. As a result, the regular monitoring of groundwater resources could reveal more about the area's groundwater quality status. HIGHLIGHTS Microbial contamination and health risks.; Targeted water treatment strategies.; Hydrochemical facies and anthropogenic impact.; Evidence of ion exchange and interplay of ions.; Holistic approach to management and future research.;

Keywords

• geochemical processes
• groundwater
• microbial
• physicochemical
• tongo town