Water Quality Appraisal in Selected Rivers at Atiwa Forest in the Eastern Region of Ghana

The high spate of illegal mining activities in the Atiwa forest in the Eastern Region of Ghana has caused lots of damage to water bodies and its surrounding environment including soil and air pollution. This anthropogenic activity has resulted in elevated amounts of heavy metals pollution of the affected water bodies and its adjacent environment. This calls for the needs for the investigation into the analysis of the total coliform, E. coli and heavy metals for drinking and irrigation water accessibility is highly recommended. These are dangerous bacterial and pollutants which have health implications. A total of 20 water samples were collected from the five (5) major rivers, namely Ayensu, Birim, Ewusu, Wankobiri and Suhyen in the Anum Apapam, Kyebi Apapam, Kwabeng, Asikam and Kobriso Atiwa forest which serve at irrigation and drinking purposes for these communities. The water samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, colour, total calcium (Ca), magnesium (mg), total hardness (TH), sodium (Na), sodium (Na), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Carbonate (CO32-), Sulphate (SO42-) and Chloride (Cl-). The results obtained were compared with permissible values of WHO and FAO Guidelines for drinking water and irrigation. The results obtained shows that the water samples from all the rivers; Ayensu, Birim, Ewusu, Wankobir and Suhyen are not suitable for drinking even though all the water quality parameters are within the range of acceptability except the colour and turbidity levels of the water samples which exceeded its acceptable limit thereby making the water unsafe for drinking. Also, all the water quality parameters for irrigation suitability are within the acceptable limit except HCO3- and CO32-.