An Investigation of Heavy Metal Pollution Impact on Drinking Water Quality in the Birim River Sub-Basin of Ghana

The threat posed by Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) to the quality of drinking water in Ghana has become a major public concern due to the many harmful chemicals used in the process. This study aimed to investigate heavy metal pollution in the Birim River Sub-Basin and develop a community participation module to manage the threats of heavy metal pollution the drinking water in surrounding communities. The study was based on 192 samples collected from Kibi and Akim Oda water treatment plants and towns (Upstream and Downstream) for a period of 6 weeks. Four heavy metals, Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), and Arsenic (As) in water were investigated from the Birim River sub-basin in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The water samples were analyzed using a Shimadzu AA- 7000 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with deuterium background corrector. The ranges of the heavy metals detected were 0.00 mg/L – 0.15 mg/L, 0.00 mg/L – 1.06 mg/L, 0.002 mg/L – 0.910 mg/L for Cd, Cr, and As respectively, Pb was not detected in all samples. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) of 136 and 1037 recorded at the point of use at both upstream Kibi and downstream Akim Oda showed that ASM significantly rendered the quality of the drinking water unfit for use. Both adults and children residing in both Kibi and Akim Oda face substantial non-cancer risks, as evidenced by the Hazard Index values of 3.87 and 44.81 for adults and 8.90 and 103.08 for children, respectively. The Total Cancer Risks associated with the exposure to the drinking water laced with multiple heavy metals showed that over 6,500 adults and 15,500 children out of a million were at risk in Kibi, while over 28,000 adults and 64,400 children were at risk in Akim Oda. The high levels of heavy metals concentration recorded in the source water, filtered water, treated water and the tap water supports the claim that artisanal and small-scale mining negatively impact drinking water quality and puts the health of consumers at risk.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering – Civil

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Amengor, Jacob Kwasi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Black, Kerry

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Chu, Angus
• Huang, Wendy

• Water Quality
• Mining
• Heavy Metal Pollution

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/42793

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/117949