A Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Analysis of Borehole Water Samples from the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, Ghana Godfred Etsey Sebiawu, Samuel Asiedu Fosu and Sixtus Bieranye Bayaa Martin Saana Dispensing Technology Department, Wa Polytechnic, Wa. Abstract — Twelve samples of water from twelve boreholes at six locations in the Wa Municipality were analyzed to determine its quality. The physico-chemical properties of all the twelve samples were evaluated. The parameters analyzed include pH, residual chlorine, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, true Colour, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, total hardness, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium total iron and total coliform. The results obtained were compared with recommended WHO guidelines for potable water. None of the samples analyzed was found to contain any residual chlorine. Most of the samples were found to contain coliforms while some samples recorded lower pH values than recommended. Keywords—Physico-chemicals, Water quality, WHO drinking water guidelines, Underground water, Boreholes, Contamination. I. INTRODUCTION The quality of drinking water is a powerful environmental determining factor of health, survival, growth and development. Approximately 30 percent of the world’s freshwater stocks are found underground, supplying drinking water for an estimated two billion people and irrigation for an estimated 40 percent of the world’s food and has proved to be the most reliable resources for meeting rural water demand in sub-Saharan Africa [1], [2], [3], [4]. The majority of people in Upper West Region of Ghana drink untreated groundwater and they are mainly from boreholes [5]. Ground water contamination has become one of the main environmental issues today due to contamination by sewage, industrial wastes, chemicals and the activities of small scale miners, farmers and artisans [6], [7], [8]. To know whether the groundwater is contaminated or not, it is necessary that the quality of drinking water should be monitored at regular time intervals, because contaminated drinking water can cause various forms of water borne diseases [9]. Contamination of groundwater may stem from different sources. These include insanitary conditions during borehole construction, splashing of runoff into wells if left uncovered; flooding at borehole site, leachate from old buried waste pit or latrine into the hole through cracks in the aquifer and annular of the hole. The closeness of boreholes to septic tanks especially where space is a constraint and as such boreholes being drilled at old garbage landfill sites may also contribute to contamination [11], [12]. Sanitation at the surface around the well also affects the quality of the water as seepage through the soil surrounding the casing may also impart pollutant on the water quality [13], [14]. The use of water increases with growing population, putting increasing strain on these water resources [15]. An adequate supply of clean, safe and quality drinking water is one of the major problems in developing countries [16], [17], [18], [19]. The Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana relies mainly on the Ghana Water Company for its urban water supply. The Company unlike those in other urban centres, depends on underground water as its source of intake. Due to inability of Governments to meet the ever-increasing water demand, most people in the Wa Municipality resort privately to groundwater sources such as shallow wells and boreholes as alternative water resources [20], [21]. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been unable to supply enough water to meet both household and commercial consumption demands in the Wa Municipality. For example, only 23% of the population is served with pipe-borne water from the Ghana Water Company and the rest of the population depend on privately owned boreholes [22]. The purpose of this study is to determine, assess and evaluate the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of borehole water utilized in the Wa Municipality and to propose measures to prevent contamination of borehole water in future. II. METHODOLOGY A. Location and size of study area The Wa Municipality is one of the eleven District Assemblies that make up the Upper West Region of Ghana. It shares administrative boundaries with the Nadowli District Assembly to the North, the Wa East District Assembly to the East and the Wa West District Assembly to the West and South. It lies within latitudes 1º40‟N to 2º45‟N and longitudes 9º32‟ to 10º20‟W with total land area of 234.74 sq. km (Fig.1.). Currently the total population of the municipality stands at 127,284 (male: 61,826/female: 65, 458) [22]. Sample points A, B, C, D, E and F on the Map are Wa- Sombo, Kumbiahi, Kpaguri, Kpongu, Bamahu, and Tampalipani respectively. As shown in Fig.1. two boreholes of some distance apart were selected as sample points in every locations of Wa circled in the map. 1959 Vol. 3 Issue 5, May - 2014 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 www.ijert.org IJERTV3IS051954 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)