Impact of the ban on illegal mining activities on raw water quality: A case-study of Konongo Water Treatment Plant, Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

The Government of Ghana prohibited Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) operations from 2017 to 2018 as part of its strategy to address the socio-environmental issues caused by illegal mining activities, also referred to as “galamsey” operations. This study assessed the trend in the water quality of raw water abstracted at the Konongo Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for treatment before and after implementing the ban on “galamsey” operations. The main source of raw water for the Konongo WTP is the Anuru River. Secondary data on physicochemical water quality from 2006 to 2019 was sourced from the Konongo WTP and the Ashanti Regional Water Quality Assurance Unit of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). Mann-Kendall seasonality test was used to determine trends in the water quality data using XLSTAT statistical tool. The results showed a statistically significant (5% level of significance) upward trend in colour, turbidity, temperature, total iron, and sulphate before the ban on “galamsey” activities. There was statistically significant evidence of a downward trend in total hardness, calcium hardness, turbidity, total alkalinity, and chloride after the ban on “galamsey” operations.