Geological Society of America

T130 Global Drinking Water and Public Health: Conditions, Contaminants, Concerns, and Strategies

Monday, 5 November 2018
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 238-239

DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN HOHOE MUNICIPALITY, VOLTA REGION, GHANA

Paper number: T130-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:10 PM – 2:25 PM

Authors

Dennis R. Ruez Presenting Author
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Seth B. Eddington
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Maria C. Espinosa Gonzalez
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Dede B. Afatsawo
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Aderonke E. Adewuyi
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Bredina M. Coale
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Alexandra N. Madden
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL
Ashley J. Ray
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL

Abstract

Over 200 water samples were collected from seven villages in Hohoe Municipality, Volta Region, Ghana, that did not have access to municipal water supply: Alavanyo-Abehenaese, Fodome-Ahor, Gbi-Godenu, Hohoe-Zongo, Likpe-Todome, Santrokofi-Gbodome, and Wli-Afegame. Samples were collected from the sources (e.g., rivers, boreholes, springs) and storage containers (both those kept outside and covered), and analyzed for the levels of phosphates, nitrates, pH, and copper. Additional tests for lead and copper are ongoing, and selected samples were subjected to bacterial analysis. Five teams of students from the University of Illinois at Springfield and the University of Health and Allied Sciences (Ghana) also administered qualitative surveys to the households regarding water use and perceptions of their water supply. Although the Volta Region has experienced deforestation with the expansion of agriculture, and the seven rural villages visited largely lacked toilets, rainwater and surface waters in this mountainous were generally very clean. One notable exception was the water from a borehole in Wli-Afegame, which continuously yielded nitrate levels higher than 50 ppm and commonly higher than 200 ppm. Enteric bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterobacter cloacae were found in high levels in most water samples.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018AM-323403

© Copyright 2018 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.