Physico-Chemical Quality and Heavy Metal Assessment of Surface Water Sources in Artisanal Mining Communities in Mpohor Wassa East District, Ghana

S. T.  Annan; K.  Ibrahim; F. K.  Nyame; R. W.  Kazapoe; B.  Frimpong; A. A.  Yankson; R.  Asare; A.  Edjah

S. T. Annan
K. Ibrahim
F. K. Nyame
R. W. Kazapoe
B. Frimpong
A. A. Yankson
R. Asare
A. Edjah

Keywords: Artisanal mining, Physicochemical, Water Quality, Surface Water, Hydrochemistry, Heavy metals, Ghana

Abstract

This study evaluated the physico-chemical characteristics and concentrations of heavy metals present in the surface water sources that were affected by artisanal mining activities within the Mpohor Wassa East District in Ghana. To determine the key factors that most significantly affect the variability of water quality, multivariate statistical methods, such as the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were used. Except for turbidity, all measured physico-chemical parameters complied with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. PCA revealed six principal components, with the first component (PC1) accounting for 22.5% of the total variance. PC1 was strongly associated with cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd), and moderately associated with nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), magnesium (Mg), lead (Pb), and iron (Fe). These results are important in the informative design of both location-specific surface water monitoring and management plans in Ghana's artisanal mines.