The evaluation of physicochemical parameters and some heavy metals was carried out from six different tannery companies at the industrial areas of Challawa and Sharada, using standard procedures. Temperature, pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids(TDS) were determined using portable digital hand logging meter. The sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, arsenic contents were determined using UV Spectrophotometer, while chloride, dissolved oxygen (DO) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) contents were determined using titrimetric method, and the heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean temperature of the water ranged from 36.00 – 39.670C, pH: 2.63 – 9.33, conductivity: 336.33 – 12351.67μS/cm, TDS: 166.73 – 6017.67mg/L, sulphate: 114.00 – 466.67mg/L, phosphate: 0.29 – 12.80mg/L, chloride: 58.66 – 1577.87mg/L, nitrate: 6.03 - 33.43mg/L, DO: 2.60 – 21.27mg/L and BOD: 0.77 – 12.33mg//L. Water samples from the tannery effluents contained higher levels for both physicochemical parameters and heavy metals in untreated than treated. Cadmium and nickel were within the WHO limit for both treated and untreated while arsenic was within the limit for only treated effluent. Chromium and lead were above the WHO limit for both treated and untreated effluent. The parameters studied showed variations within the tannery companies and this may affect the Challawariver where this effluent is discharged which can have long term health effect on the aquatic animals and humans that depend on the river water for their daily activities. Keywords: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolve Oxygen, Heavy Metals and Effluents

The determination of levels of some carcinogenic metals in the water and incidences of cancer was carried out in ten different local governments along Hadejia-Jama'are River Basin Areas, using standard procedures. Arsenic content was determined using UV Spectrophotometer after diazotization and heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after acid digestion. The numbers of cancer patients were obtained from the Cancer Register of the health institutions along the basin after obtaining ethical approvals from the health institutions. The mean arsenic (As), of the water ranged from 3.35 – 10.60 µg/L, cadmium (Cd): 1.57 – 10.10 µg/L, chromium (Cr): 40.30 – 250.00 µg/L, nickel (Ni): 48.80 – 235.00 µg/L and lead (Pb): 19.50 – 38.20 µg/L. The metal concentrations in the water samples were higher in the dry season than the wet season. ANOVA showed significant differences at p<0.05 for Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb. The cancer levels were determined by matching the concentration of the heavy metals from each local government with number of cancer patients in the local government along the river basin route. The cancer cases along the basin were Bunkure- 13, Wudil- 16, Ajingi11, Ringim- 9, Taura- 8, K/Hausa- 10, Hadejia- 12, Jama'are- 3, Gashua- 14 and Nguru- 10. Using the principal component analysis (PCA) there was an excellent relationship between cancer burden and metal loads in the potable water of the basin while the hierarchical cluster dendrogram (HCD) analysis reveals that arsenic, chromium and cadmium may be the major contributors to cancer incidences along the basin.

Groundwater is a very important asset to the people of Northern Ghana where majority are farmers as its used for many domestic and agricultural activities. The research evaluated the effects of absolute and barometric pressures on water-table fluctuations of boreholes in Wa West and Tolon Districts of Northern Ghana. Pumping tests, absolute and barometric pressures were monitored using non-vented water level sensors for one year, from 2015-2016. The results of the research indicate that, the aquifer of the Kpaligung borehole is of Voltaian province while that of Baleofili is Granitoid intrusions. The yield of the Baleofili borehole is 1.8 m3/h (30 l/min), while that of the Kpaligung borehole yields 1.4 m3/h (23 l/min). Rainfall regime has considerable effects on Kpaligung and Baleofili boreholes` recharge and water-table fluctuation due to the effects of both absolute and barometric pressure throughout the year. The relationship between barometric pressure and water pressure for the Kpaligung borehole shows positive, but weak correlation value (0.2) that is, increase in barometric pressure leads to an increase in water level and vice versa. The Baleofili borehole shows an inverse relationship between barometric pressure and water level pressure with the coefficient of correlation being 0.5. The relationship between the changes in water level of the boreholes with the corresponding change in rainfall amount suggests that the groundwater recharge of the boreholes depends considerably on annual rainfall variation in the study areas considered.