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Urbanization and Pollution of Surface Water Resources in the Two Largest Cities in Ghana

Received: 7 October 2013     Published: 30 October 2013
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Abstract

Pollution of freshwater resources draining urban centres in the developing world poses a threat to human health and environmental sustainability. This, apart from inadequate infrastructure, is primarily propelled by explosive urban pop-ulations. The study seeks to determine the level of pollution and sources of pollution in selected surface water resources in Accra and Kumasi. Water samples from specific locations of the Aboabo river in Kumasi and the upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon in Accra were collected and analysed for their physico-chemical and microbial quality during the study period. The results from the study pointed out that the upper reaches of the Lagoon is rendered anaerobic during the dry season and with appreciably low DO even during the wet season. Drastic depreciation in DO levels in the Aboabo river as it flows through highly populated areas (Aboabo, Moshie Zongo and Anloga) were depicted through the study. Elevated BOD (upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon: 27.7 - 200mg/L; Aboabo river: 38.25mg/L - 260mg/L) and E. coli (upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon: 5.0x106 - 2.8x109 CFU/100mL; Aboabo river: 4.0x106 CFU/100mL - 1.3x108 CFU/100mL) levels were also recorded in both waterbodies generally attributed to disposal of organic wastes and faecal matter into them. An integrated approach that takes cognizance of both technical and socio-economic factors behind this phenomenon is proposed by the study.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 1, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12
Page(s) 279-287
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Water Quality, Pollution, Aboabo River, Kumasi, Korle Lagoon, Accra

References
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[10] N.K. Asare-Donkor, D.D. Wemegah, and A.A. Adimado." Chemical Analysis of Freshwater Bodies in the Kumasi Metropolis and Its Environs, Ghana". Journal of Environment and Earth Science. Vol. 3 No. 9, 2013, pp 37 - 45.
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[14] Ghana Statistical Service, 2010. URL: http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/greater_accra.html.
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[19] R. Hirata, F. Stephen, D. Gomes, M. D’Elia, and P. Marta, "Groundwater Quality Protection": A Guideline for Water Utilities, Municipal Authorities and Environment Agencies. Words and Publications. Oxford, United Kingdom, 2002.
[20] A. Y. Karikari, K. A. Asante and C. A. Biney, "Water Quality Characteristics at the Estuary of Korle Lagoon in Ghana". CSIR-Water Research Institute, Accra. Ghana, 1997.
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[22] A. T. Amuzu, "The Impact of Urbanization and Development on Surface Waters in Ghana". Freshwater Contamination. Proceedings of Rabat Symposium S4, April-May 1997. IAHS Publications, 1997, No. 243. pp 117.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Isaac Monney, Robert Boakye, Richard Buamah, Frederick Oppong Kyekyeku Anyemedu, Samuel Nii Odai, et al. (2013). Urbanization and Pollution of Surface Water Resources in the Two Largest Cities in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 1(6), 279-287. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12

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    ACS Style

    Isaac Monney; Robert Boakye; Richard Buamah; Frederick Oppong Kyekyeku Anyemedu; Samuel Nii Odai, et al. Urbanization and Pollution of Surface Water Resources in the Two Largest Cities in Ghana. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2013, 1(6), 279-287. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12

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    AMA Style

    Isaac Monney, Robert Boakye, Richard Buamah, Frederick Oppong Kyekyeku Anyemedu, Samuel Nii Odai, et al. Urbanization and Pollution of Surface Water Resources in the Two Largest Cities in Ghana. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2013;1(6):279-287. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12,
      author = {Isaac Monney and Robert Boakye and Richard Buamah and Frederick Oppong Kyekyeku Anyemedu and Samuel Nii Odai and Esi Awuah},
      title = {Urbanization and Pollution of Surface Water Resources in the Two Largest Cities in Ghana},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {1},
      number = {6},
      pages = {279-287},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20130106.12},
      abstract = {Pollution of freshwater resources draining urban centres in the developing world poses a threat to human health and environmental sustainability. This, apart from inadequate infrastructure, is primarily propelled by explosive urban pop-ulations. The study seeks to determine the level of pollution and sources of pollution in selected surface water resources in Accra and Kumasi. Water samples from specific locations of the Aboabo river in Kumasi and the upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon in Accra were collected and analysed for their physico-chemical and microbial quality during the study period. The results from the study pointed out that the upper reaches of the Lagoon is rendered anaerobic during the dry season and with appreciably low DO even during the wet season. Drastic depreciation in DO levels in the Aboabo river as it flows through highly populated areas (Aboabo, Moshie Zongo and Anloga) were depicted through the study. Elevated BOD (upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon: 27.7 - 200mg/L; Aboabo river: 38.25mg/L - 260mg/L) and E. coli (upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon: 5.0x106 -  2.8x109 CFU/100mL; Aboabo river: 4.0x106 CFU/100mL  - 1.3x108 CFU/100mL) levels were also recorded in both waterbodies generally attributed to disposal of organic wastes and faecal matter into them. An integrated approach that takes cognizance of both technical and socio-economic factors behind this phenomenon is proposed by the study.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Urbanization and Pollution of Surface Water Resources in the Two Largest Cities in Ghana
    AU  - Isaac Monney
    AU  - Robert Boakye
    AU  - Richard Buamah
    AU  - Frederick Oppong Kyekyeku Anyemedu
    AU  - Samuel Nii Odai
    AU  - Esi Awuah
    Y1  - 2013/10/30
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 279
    EP  - 287
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130106.12
    AB  - Pollution of freshwater resources draining urban centres in the developing world poses a threat to human health and environmental sustainability. This, apart from inadequate infrastructure, is primarily propelled by explosive urban pop-ulations. The study seeks to determine the level of pollution and sources of pollution in selected surface water resources in Accra and Kumasi. Water samples from specific locations of the Aboabo river in Kumasi and the upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon in Accra were collected and analysed for their physico-chemical and microbial quality during the study period. The results from the study pointed out that the upper reaches of the Lagoon is rendered anaerobic during the dry season and with appreciably low DO even during the wet season. Drastic depreciation in DO levels in the Aboabo river as it flows through highly populated areas (Aboabo, Moshie Zongo and Anloga) were depicted through the study. Elevated BOD (upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon: 27.7 - 200mg/L; Aboabo river: 38.25mg/L - 260mg/L) and E. coli (upper reaches of the Korle Lagoon: 5.0x106 -  2.8x109 CFU/100mL; Aboabo river: 4.0x106 CFU/100mL  - 1.3x108 CFU/100mL) levels were also recorded in both waterbodies generally attributed to disposal of organic wastes and faecal matter into them. An integrated approach that takes cognizance of both technical and socio-economic factors behind this phenomenon is proposed by the study.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong Ashanti, Ghana

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

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