Effects of Small-Scale Salt Mining on the Quality of Well Water in the Komenda-Edena-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District in the Central Region, Ghana

摘要

The main aim of the research was to investigate how small-scale salt mining has been impacting negatively on the quality of well water in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) district of Ghana. Salt mining is a major occupation of inhabitants of the coastal regions of Ghana. A community where salt mining . has just begun was used as a control. Well water samples were collected from four wells in the communities. Generally the quality of well water in the three salt mining communities was poor. Many well water quality parameters measured were above WHOs recommended levels for portability. pH levels ranged from 4.1 to 8.3 with a mean value of 6.7, electrical conductivity ranged from 1730 to 9900 and 4628 μS/cm as the mean, turbidity levels recorded ranged from 1.4 to 14 NTU with a mean of 4.7 NTU. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ranged from a minimum of 895 mg/L to a maximum of 3790 mg/L with a mean of 1904 mg/L, salininty levels ranged from 0.8 to 6.0 mg/L with a mean of 2.6 mg/L, calcium ranged from 80 to 400 mg/L with a mean of 216 mg/L and Mg ranged from 146 to 534 mg/L with a mean of 224 mg/L. Total and faecal coliforms ranged from 100 to 570 cfu/100 mL with a mean of 250 and 40 to 300 cfu/100 mL with a mean of 134 cfu/100 mL respectively. The results indicated that generally, salt mining has impacted negatively on the quality of well water in the study area. Concentrations of physico-chemical parameters, especially, those of conductivity, salinity and TDS were very high in the three communities with large concentration of saltpans as compared the community with only one saltpan. Again, values recorded for physico-chemical parameters were higher in the dry season when salt mining is at its peak than the wet season. The pollution of the wells may be attributed to the salt mining activities because at Brenu Akyinim where salt mining have just started and there is only one producer in the area, the quality of water in terms of concentrations of physico-chemical parameters was better.