Assessment of surface water quality status of the Aby Lagoon System in the Western Region of Ghana

Abstract

The pollution status of the Tendo Lagoon, the upstream section of the Aby Lagoon System, was investigated. The water temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), nitrates (NO 3 - ), and phosphate (PO 4 3- ) levels were evaluated using samples taken during the wet and dry seasons to assess the variabilities in water quality in the area. The water quality data was subjected to paired t-test, One-way ANOVA, Factor Analysis, Cluster analysis (CA) as well as a Water Quality Index (WQI) evaluation using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) model. The paired sample t-test confirmed that the surface water quality varies significantly between the wet and dry season samples (p < 0.05) except for phosphate loads which may be contributed largely by year-round municipal waste discharges. The results of the ANOVA showed that the variation of the water quality parameters among sampling stations was not statistically significant except for turbidity which was relatively higher in the upstream sections where the Tano River enters the lagoon. The results of FA indicated that three significant factors–relating to the degradation of organic materials, suspended solids (turbidity) and nutrients- accounted for 73.65% of spatio-temporal variations in the water quality. The CA showed that the eight sampling stations can be grouped into four distinct clusters based on their water quality. The source of pollution in the demarcated sections of the Aby Lagoon was concluded to be largely due to the result of localized anthropogenic inputs of domestic waste and sediments carried from the upstream in the Tano River. An evaluation of the CCME WQI for the sampling stations revealed that all the sampling stations showed marginal water quality relative to the target water quality range recommended by the Water Resources Commission (WRC) of Ghana for domestic use and protection of aquatic life. Monitoring programs were recommended with effective management measures instituted and implemented for the sustainability of the lagoon and the Tano River Basin.

Quality and Health Risk Assessment Associated with Water Consumption—A Case Study on Karstic Springs

“…were below the guideline value. High levels of NO 3 − in the drinking water in the dry season as well as medium to high-risk levels for infants, children, and adults were reported in Ghana [56,57].…”

Water quality of streams associated with artisanal gold mining; Suárez, Department of Cauca, Colombia

“…Figure 3 shows a consolidation of the concentrations of the DO, TSS, BOD 5 , COD, ALKAL, and T HARD variables, noting that in sampling stations T4, D2, and T3, the TSS contribution is high, as well as T HARD and COD due to the influence of the entables in these sampling stations where mud, sand from the rocky material with pyrite content, arsenopyrite, galena, chromite among others is generated; product of the milling and washing process in the barrels. This process generates a high turbidity when the discharge reaches the streams as observed in Figure 4 where in the station I3, T3 and T4 they exceed the values of 100, 200 and 400 (NTU) respectively ( Sun et al., 2016 ; Zhen, 2010 ; Miyittah et al., 2020 ).

Figure 3 Concentration consolidation of DO, BOD 5 , COD (mg O 2 L −1 ) TSS (mg L −1 ) ALKAL, and T HARD (mg CaCO 3 L −1 ) in streams and the Cauca River.

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“…(2015) ; Saksena et al. (2008) and Miyittah et al. (2020) also expressed in low BOD 5 values in all the sampling points and only in L2, D1, and D2 exceed 4 mg L −1 of demand because, close to these stations, there is greater concentration of dwellings and higher number of gold mining workers ( Chapman, 1996 ; Gualdrón-Durán, 2016 ).…”

Dinamika hidrokimia air tanah pada Akuifer Pasiran Pulau Yeben Raja Ampat, Papua Barat

“…Berdasarkan hasil laboratorium dari keempat (4) sampel terdapat tiga (3) sampel air tanah dibawah baku mutu, tetapi terdapat nilai kadar fluoride pada sampel A1 (1,922 mg/l) (Gambar 5) melebihi baku mutu air, yaitu 1,5 mg/l. Dampak yang ditimbulkan dari konsumsi fluoride adalah masalah pencernaan salah satunya diare (Miyittah et al, 2020). Kadar nilai mangan dari hasil laboratorium menunjukkan nilai rentang 0,005-0,027 mg/l yang masih dibawah baku mutu air.…”

“…Menurut Miyittah et al, (2020), menyebutkan bahwa kualitas air yang menurun hingga tidak dapat dikonsumsi dapat mengakibatkan permasalahan serius dalam pengelolaan sebuah sumber daya. Sumber daya air dengan kualitas dibawah baku mutu, diperlukan pemantauan secara berkelanjutan dan dipetakan, untuk memberikan solusi terbaik dari pemanfaatan air tanah pesisir.…”