ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF TAP WATER IN THE EASTERN REGION

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ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF TAP WATER IN THE EASTERN REGION

Presenters:

Humphrey Darko

Dr. Osmund Ansa-Asare

(Environmental Chemistry Division)

Mark Akrong (EBHD)

Mid-Year Review Seminar: 17/07/2014

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CSIRProject Team

Humphrey Darko Mark Akrong Dr. Ansa-Asare Anthony Karikari Jude Quansah Murijinatu Abdul-Hamid

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CSIRPresentation Outline

Introduction Objective Methodology Results and Discussion Conclusions and Recommendations

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CSIRIntroduction

It is important to monitor water that is intended to be consumed for constituents which may pose a potential health risk to human health.

Even when drinking water sources have been subjected to treatment and disinfection, it is essential that routine examination of the supply is carried out at weekly, or even daily intervals where the population at risk is large (Chapman, 1996).

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CSIRIntroduction

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) contracted the CSIR Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI) to undertake an independent assessment of the quality of tap water in the Eastern Region in the month of April 2013. Some Districts were selected for the for the investigation.

Nsawam Adoagyire Municipal, (Nsawam) Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar District, (Suhum) New Juaben Municipal, (Koforidua) Kwahu West Municipal, (Nkawkaw) Kwahu South District,(Mpraeso) West Akim Municipal (Asamakese) East Akim District (Akim –Tafo) Kwaebibirem District (Kade) Birim Central Municipal (Akim-Oda) Akwapim South District (Aburi) Akwapim North Municipal (Akropong)

The assessment involved physico-chemical and bacteriological water quality parameters of tap used by consumers.

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CSIRObjective of the Study

The objective of the study was to investigate the quality of tap water consumed in the Eastern Region, to determine its suitability for drinking.

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CSIRMethodology-Sampling

Field visits were made to 43 sampling locations. Samples were collected and brought to CSIR-WRI

Labs in Accra for analysis. The samples were collected from:

Public standpipes Secondary Schools Hospitals Regional Minister’s Residence Private homes Few Boreholes

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CSIRMethodology- sampling

PSP at Nkawkaw Akim-Oda Sec Sch. Kitchen

Kwawu Tafo Sec Sch Kwahu Tafo Booster Station

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CSIRMethodology- sampling

K’dua Cent.Hospital Kitchen Reg. Min. Residence, K’dua, Kitchen

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CSIRMap of sample locations in the ER.

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CSIRResults and discussion

Key Physico-chemical parameters:

 pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, TDS, TSS, Total Hardness;

Nutrients (NO3-N, PO4-P);

Major Ions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3-, SO4

2-);

Metals (Fe, Mn); Chlorine Residual.

Key Bateriological Parameters: (TC, FC, E. coli, THB)

The quality of the water was assessed in relation to World Health Organisation guideline values for drinking water (WHO, 2006)

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CSIRResults and discussion - pH

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<5 5-6.5 6.5-8.5 >8.5

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pH value

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Results and discussions - TurbidityRepresents both aesthetic and health problem

High turbidity in drinking water will make it objectionable.

Turbidity can provide food

and shelter for pathogens.

If not removed, turbidity can promote regrowth of pathogens in the distribution system, leading to waterborne disease outbreaks, eg. Gastroenteritis USEPA,1999).

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7.0

0102030405060708090

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< 5 >5

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Range of Turbidity values (NTU)

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CSIRResults and discussion – Total Hardness

Makes water unable to lather well with soap.

Deposits scales on surfaces of cooking utensils used in the household for heating, eg. saucepans,

Kettles.

WHO guideline is 500 mg/lCaCO3.

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0-50 50-100 100-150 150-200 200-300 >300

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Range of Hardness values (mg/lCaCO3)

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CSIRResults and discussionParameter Min(mg/l) Max(mg/l) WHO GuideNitrite-N 0.030 0.359 1Nitrate-N 0.055 0.855 10Phosphate 0.052 1.27Calcium 2.60 82.1 200Magnesium 1.50 32.2 150Iron 0.010 0.434 0.3Manganese 0.005 0.429 0.4Sodium 6.00 95.0 200Potassium 0.400 18.3 30Chloride 2.70 123 250Sulphate 3.75 238 250Colour 2.50 7.50 15Total Sus. Solids 1.00 1.00Coductivity(uS/cm) 46.9 739Total Dis. Solids 25.8 575 1000

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CSIRResults and discussion - Chlorine Residual

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ND 0.01-0.02 0.02 - 0.10 0.10 - 0.20 0.21 - 0.25

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Range of Chlorine Residual values (mg/l)

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< 0.10 mg/l > 0.10 mg/l

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Chlorine residual concentration

To ensure that drinking water is free of disease-causing microorganisms, chlorine residual should be maintained in the distribution system.

It is required to range between 0.1 mg/l to 0.2 mg/l at consumers tap.

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CSIRResults and discussion- Bacteriological

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No TC No FC No E Coli THB <500 No TC,FC,Ecol, THB<500

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Bacteria group

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CSIRConclusions and Recommendations

Physico-chemical quality: Except low pH and low Free Cl which were observed

in few of the waters, levels of the other physico-chemical parameters in the waters were satisfactory to make the waters suitable for drinking.

Bacteria quality: The bacteria quality of the waters, however, were

found to be poor due to presence of bacteria counts in most of the waters. It is therefore advised that water from the tap should be boiled to kill off any probable bacteria before used for drinking.

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CSIRConclusions and Recommendations

Nsawam Adoagyire Municpal, Kwahu West Municipal, Kwahu South Dist., were seen to be poorest with regard to bacterial quality.

It is recommended that re-chlorination should be done frequently at the booster stations to prevent any bacterial re-growth.

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CSIRConclusions and Recommendations

Regular monitoring of the quality of tap water in our distribution systems is necessary to ensure good quality of water to consumers.

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Thank you all