Water pollution control and revitalization using advanced technologies: Uncovering artificial intelligence options towards environmental health protection, sustainability and water security
Emmanuel Kwame Nti,
Samuel Jerry Cobbina,
Eunice Efua Attafuah,
Lydia Dziedzorm Senanu,
Gloria Amenyeku,
Michael Amoah Gyan,
Dorcas Forson,
Abdul-Rafiw Safo
Affiliations
Emmanuel Kwame Nti
West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Government of Ghana and World Bank Through the African Centre's of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Initiative, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana; Corresponding author. West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Government of Ghana and World Bank Through the African Centre's of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) initiative, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana.
Samuel Jerry Cobbina
Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana
Eunice Efua Attafuah
Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK) World Bank Africa Centre's of Excellence Project, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
Lydia Dziedzorm Senanu
West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Government of Ghana and World Bank Through the African Centre's of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Initiative, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana
Gloria Amenyeku
West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Government of Ghana and World Bank Through the African Centre's of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) Initiative, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana
Michael Amoah Gyan
Department of History, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Dorcas Forson
Department of Integrated Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana
Abdul-Rafiw Safo
Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
In Ghana, illegal mining (galamsey) activities have polluted most of the river bodies. For example, water bodies in Ghana that are polluted amounts to 60% with most of them in deteriorating condition. However, to live a sustainable life, there is the need to follow rules of environmental management, where pollution control and advanced treatment technologies are imperative. The adoption of control strategies and advanced technologies in galamsey-affected-water basins in Ghana will help provide real-time revitalization for supply of quality water. The control strategies for water pollution management and advanced technologies would particularly help utility companies in ensuring that all Ghanaians continue to get potable, reliable, and sustainable water supplies for the current and future generations. The paper covers three key control strategies for water pollution management, vis-à-vis six major aspects of advanced technologies and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI based decision-making tools help optimize the use of various treatment technologies, such as adsorption, ion exchanges, electrokinetic processes, chemical precipitation, phytobial remediation, and membrane technology to effectively remove pollutants from affected water bodies. The paper also focuses on advantages and disadvantages of several advanced technologies, challenges on leveraging the technologies while identifying gaps, and possible technology roadmap. The review contributes to water quality issues in Ghana's Pra river basin by embracing AI and other cutting-edge technologies to address the current water pollution crisis and also ensure sustainable and secure water supply for future generations. This contribution is in line with the United Nations' Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) and goal 3 (good health and well-being).
