Global Advanced Research Journal of Physical and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (2) pp. 039-046, September, 2013 Available online http://www.garj.org/garjpas/index.htm Copyright © 2013 Global Advanced Research Journals Original Research Paper Mine water and the environment: a case study at Central African Gold Bibiani Limited, Ghana P. Anane-Acheampong.-Osisiadan 1 , L. Darkwah 2 and G. Owusu-Boateng 3 * 1 Department of Material Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana 2 Department of Chemical Engineering 3 Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana Accepted 02 September, 2013 The quantity and quality of input and output water at the various stages of mining is of critical importance in monitoring the dynamics of mine water. This study was undertaken to assess the quantity and physic-chemical quality of water sources for ore processing, the process water pond and surface waters in the Central African Gold (CAG) Mine concession area. Water samples were analysed for levels of some physic-chemical parameters: pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, iron, arsenic and cyanide. Results indicate that the main sources of water to the processing plant were the decant water (55.10%) and thickener overflow (34.55%). There was a general decline in water quality in this study as compared to the baseline study and most importantly deviated from levels prescribed by the Ghana EPA standard and the WHO guideline for both effluent discharge into the environment and drinking water, calling for measures to ward off any possible human and environmental health problems. Keywords: Central African Gold, water, quantity, quality, pollution, Ghana EPA, WHO. INTRODUCTION The importance of extracted mineral to socio-economic development cannot be under- reckoned. It provides important incomes to nations, improved services and increase employment in local communities. In fact it is a critical factor that serves as an element of the foundation of resource utilization. This important attribute is likely to be unending if best resource management practices for environmental sustainability are adhered to by society. If the relationship between mining and the environment is *Corresponding author Email: godfredowusuboateng@yahoo.com directed towards sustainability through adoption of best management practices, the full benefit of mining can be realized. Mining operations use water for mineral processing and metal recovery, dust control and supply of water needs of workers on site (Lottermoser, 2012). Groundwater, surface water and rainwater have been used as sources of water for mining. Metallurgical plants employ processing methods that may be categorized into flotation, gravitational, washing, magnetic separation, crushing and sorting, carbon-In- leach (CIL), Carbon-In- Pulp (CIP), heap leach etc each of which uses water. Although a large mining operation may use a