Empirical analysis of the impact of urbanization on groundwater quality within the slums of Accra, Ghana

Abstract

A significant proportion of city dwellers in Ghana reside in slums where groundwater is the major source of water for domestic uses. This study examined the quality of groundwater from boreholes (seven) and hand‐dug wells (13) in five major slums in the city of Accra, Ghana. Water samples were tested for a total of 27 microbial and physicochemical contaminants at the central laboratory of the Ghana Water Company Limited. Overall, the water quality in the slums was poor as most of the parameters tested did not meet the 2017 WHO standards. Four out of the five slums (in Nima, Chorkor, Jamestown, and Abokobi‐Pantang), for instance, recorded high amounts of lead, with average values of 0.25 mg/L, 1.00 mg/L, 0.25 mg/L, and 1.5 mg/L, respectively, which are above the WHO standard of 0.01 mg/L. pH values in Nima (5.09), Sabon Zongo, Chorkor (6.09), and Abokobi‐Pantang (6.17) did not meet the WHO standard of 6.5–8.5. All five slums indicated various degrees of bacteriological contamination. The average Escherichia coli values per slum ranged between 12.50 CFU/100 ml and 249.00 CFU/100 ml, while the mean total coliform per slum ranged from 90.75 CFU/100 ml to 490.25 CFU/100 ml. The poor quality of groundwater found is attributable to improper disposal of waste, siting of boreholes/wells close to toilets, and the coastal location of some of the slums. Strict enforcement of water‐quality control checks, intensive sensitization on the dangers of improper waste disposal to groundwater quality, and the provision of sanitation facilities in the slums by city authorities are highly recommended.

The Health Burden of E-Waste: The Impact of E-Waste Dumping Sites on Child Mortality

“…However, due to price, households are unlikely to use such sachet water for other household activities such as cooking and bathing. A recent study in five slums in Accra, (Nima, Sabon Zongo, Chorkor, Jamestown, and Abokobi-Pantang) which includes slums both within our treatment area and downstream, found that groundwater was used for cooking (Ketadzo et al, 2021). Households who lack access to piped water may also lack access to personal bathing facilities; one study in Accra estimated that 18% of households who used sachets for drinking water used local rivers as their primary bathing facilities; a further 30% use 'open sources' (Stoler et al, 2012).…”

Groundwater in the coastal areas of Ghana: Quality and associated health risks

“…Despite these shortfalls, not much have been done to fully assess the quality of self-supply water sources in the coastal areas of Ghana. Most work on the subject is limited to small communities and, in rare cases, districts and regions [ [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] ]. There is currently no broad assessment of groundwater that encompasses the entire coastal areas of Ghana.…”

“…In addition, indices such as the WQI and NPI that provide an overall clear picture and easy-to-understand information on self-supply water source have found limited use in the these areas. Furthermore, some studies have reported the contamination of groundwater sources in coastal areas with heavy metals [ 24 , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] ]. However, the assessment of the health risks posed by heavy metals in the coastal region regarding drinking water from groundwater sources is limited.…”

Health risk associated with the collection, transport, and storage practices of drinking water by the population of the Dschang city, West‐Cameroon

“…Very little attention is paid to monitoring the fate of drinking water after the collection point, whereas little or no water is consumed at the collection point. The monitoring of the quality of drinking water throughout its chain must be taken into account to ensure the safety of consumers (Cunha, 2020; Fakeha & Ajai, 2021; Ketadzo et al, 2021; Lémonla, 2020). The provision of drinking water in the city of Dschang, as in most medium‐sized cities in sub‐Saharan Africa and in rural areas, generally requires regular movement of people between their homes and the point of collection (standpipe, spring, borehole, well, or river).…”