ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY AT DODOWA IN THE DANGBE WEST DISTRICT OF THE GREATER-ACCRA REGION. WILLIAM EKOW ARKO

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION Introduction Problem Statement Objectives of the study Study Area Materials & Method Results & Discussions Conclusion Recommendation

INTRODUCTION Approximately, 51% of the population have access to improved water supplies in Ghana. 60% of the total urban population is covered by GWCL’s network. In Accra, for example, 25% of the residents enjoy a regular 24hr water supply everyday.

INTRODUCTION CON’T 30% have an average of 12hr twice everyday for 5 days a week. Another 35% have twice for 2 days each week while the remaining 10% in the outskirts of Accra are completely without access to piped water supplies. This 10% either depend on independent water supplies [hand-dug well (HDW), borehole (BH) or water vendors (water tankers)

PROBLEM STATEMENT Dodowa has irregular access to pipe-borne water, therefore the community resorts to other means of getting potable water. Water sources available to the people include boreholes and hand dug wells. Many people in Dodowa store water in plastic containers and concrete tanks. They also patronize the services of water tankers.

OBJECTIVES Identify the drinking water sources in the Dodowa community.  Assess the quality of the different water sources in the Dodowa community.  

STUDY AREA

KVIP KVIP HDW 4

RESULTS PHYSICAL PARAMETERS Mobile Tanker water

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS CON’T Mobile Tanker Water

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS CON’T Mobile Tanker Water

RESULTS MAJOR CATIONS Ground water resources Stored water Mobile Tanker

RESULTS MAJOR ANIONS Major anions (mg/l) Ground water Surface Water Tanker Water

RESULTS NUTRIENTS Nutrients (mg/l) Stored Water Tanker Water

RESULTS METALS Metals (mg/l) Metals (mg/l) Mobile Tanker

RESULTS MICROBIOLOGY (cfu/ 100ml) (cfu/ 100ml) Stored Water Mobile Tanker

DISCUSSION SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PARAMETERS OVER SAMPLING SITES. TOTAL HARDNESS CHLORIDE

DISCUSSION SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PARAMETERS OVER SAMPLING SITES. IRON SODIUM

DISCUSSION SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PARAMETERS OVER SAMPLING SITES. THB FC

CONCLUSION With the groundwater sources (hand dug wells and boreholes), Iron, Manganese, Chloride, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, TC, FC, E-coli & THB were higher than the Ghana Standards/WHO guideline values and therefore not suitable for potable use. The stored water had physico-chemical constituents within Ghana Standards/WHO guideline values. However, some had microbial loads higher than the Ghana Standard/WHO guideline values & should be treated before use.

CONCLUSION CON’T The tanker water had physico-chemical parameters like Turbidity, sodium, iron, manganese & microbiological parameters exceeding the Ghana Standards/WHO guideline value. The water is therefore not suitable for potable use without treatment. Comparing the different water sources, it is evident that the stored water is better in terms of quality than the tanker water and well water in that order.

RECOMMENDATION The government of Ghana and other stakeholders should provide the inhabitants of Dodowa which is the capital of the Dangbe West District Assembly with safe drinking water by making sure the Oyibi Area water supply scheme works regularly. Establishment of more water supply schemes as part of its commitment to fulfill the Millennium Development Goal of providing about 90% of Ghanaians with pipe borne water by 2015. The Dangbe West District Assembly should make sure residents do not sink wells near or closer to places of convenience so as not to cause contamination of wells with faecal matter as they may be leached into the wells.

RECOMMENDATION CON’T There should be environmental education by the Dangbe West District Assembly and must be structured in such a way that it cuts across all spheres of society thus catering for the educated and the non-educated. Residents should be encouraged to go for rain harvesting as another source of water for potable and domestic use.

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