IJSRSET1624103 | Received : 25 July 2016 | Accepted : 18 August 2016 | July-August 2016 [(2)4: 664-668] © 2016 IJSRSET | Volume 2 | Issue 4 | Print ISSN: 2395-1990 | Online ISSN : 2394-4099 Themed Section: Engineering and Technology 664 Effects of Illegal Mining Activities on Water Resources for Irrigation Purposes, Amansie West District, Ghana Gabriel Quansah *1 , Adams Sadick 1 , Joseph Fenning 2, Kwabena Nketia 3 , Eric Asamoah 3 * 1 Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy, Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana 2 Soil Microbiology, Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana 3 Soil Genesis, Survey and Evaluation, Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana ABSTRACT This paper assessed the suitability of water in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana for irrigation purposes and future planning of clean water resources. Twenty one (21) locations were selected on the major rivers and their tributaries in the district for sampling and the water samples taken at the depth of 15cm from the rivers. The samples were analyzed at Soil Research Institute’s Laboratory for irrigation water quality parameters and compared with international water quality standard set for irrigation. All the irrigation water quality parameters, pH, temperature, ECw, TDS, Ca, Mg, Na, K and SAR were within the permissible limit and suitable for irrigation. Heavy metals (Fe, Pb and Cd) levels were all within allowable limits except Mn and Zn. However, further study to examine anions such as bicarbonate and carbonate for irrigation suitability is recommended. Keywords: Water Quality, Irrigation, Rivers, Cations, Anions I. INTRODUCTION The mining industry is the backbone of many economies in the developing world. Its recovery in Ghana since 1989 was driven by the global paradigm which emphasizes private sector-led development as the engine of economic growth in developing countries. The historical importance of mining in the economic development of Ghana is evident in the country’s colonial name, Gold Coast (Akabzaa T. and Darimani A., 2001). The mining industry of Ghana accounts for 5% of the country's GDP and minerals make up 37% of total exports, of which gold contributes over 90% of the total mineral exports. Export earnings from minerals averaged 35%, and the sector is one of the largest contributors to Government revenues through the payment of mineral royalties, employee income taxes, and corporate taxes and employment generation. The mining industry therefore remains critical to Ghana’s socio-economic growth and development (Ghana Chamber of Mines, 2008). Small and large-scale mining operations are inherently affecting the environment, producing enormous quantities of waste that can have negative impacts for decades (UNEP, 1997). Mining activities that affect water quality include the disposal of waste rock, tailings deposition, and effluent discharges from different stages of mineral processing (Dock, 2005). According to Ripley (1996) effluent released from gold mines is made up of heavy metals mainly from pyrite (FeS2) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). Koryak (1997) argues that the effluent produced from waste rock dumps has a potential of causing acid mine drainage (AMD) in stream and river waters. Research on brook trout by Mc. Kim and Benoit (1971) revealed that water polluted by gold mining activities due to AMD had concentrated heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd. Iron concentration of 0.3 mg/l could affect fish population, while zinc concentration of 0.18 mg/l significantly reduced egg production of the fathead minnow (Mc. Kim and Benoit, 1971). Low pH values of less than 5 could also affect behaviours and reproduction of aquatic organisms in West Virginia streams (Mount, 1973). Philips et al. (2001) and BOT (2002) have documented the advantages of