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Hydrochemical framework of groundwater in the Ankobra Basin, Ghana

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Abstract

Hydrochemical and stable isotope (18O and 2H) analyses of groundwater samples were used to establish the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the Ankobra Basin. The groundwater was generally mildly acidic, low in conductivity and undersaturated with respect to carbonate phases. Major ions except bicarbonate were low and dissolved silica was moderately high. Silicate minerals weathering is probably the main process through which major ions enter the groundwater. Groundwater samples clustered tightly along the Global Meteoric Water Line suggesting integrative, smooth and rapid recharge from meteoric origin. The majority of the boreholes and a few hand dug wells cluster towards the Ca–Mg–HCO3 dominant section of the phase diagram, in conformity with the active recharge and short residence time shown by the isotope data. Aluminium, arsenic, manganese, iron and mercury were the only trace metals analysed with concentrations significantly above their respective detection limits. Approximately 20%, 5%, 40% and 25% respectively of boreholes had aluminium, arsenic, iron and manganese concentrations exceeding the respective WHO maximum acceptable limits for drinking water. The relatively large percentage of boreholes with high concentration of aluminium reflects the acidic nature of the groundwater.

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Acknowledgements

I wish also to express my gratitude to DANIDA, The Danish International Development Authority that partially funded the project through Grant No. Dau. 8l/300. I wish also to thank the Water Research Institute for providing the remainder of the funds for this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-Water Research Institute, P.O. Box M32, Accra, Ghana

    Benony K. Kortatsi

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  1. Benony K. Kortatsi
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Correspondence to Benony K. Kortatsi.

Appendices

 

Appendix 1 Physico-chemical parameters, major and minor constituents, electrical balance (E Bal.), and charge balance error in percentage (EBE%)
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Appendix 2 Concentration of trace elements in groundwater in the Ankobra Basin
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Appendix 3 Saturation indices for carbonate, iron bearing minerals, gypsum, anhydrite, amorphous silicate and quartz
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Kortatsi, B.K. Hydrochemical framework of groundwater in the Ankobra Basin, Ghana. Aquat Geochem 13, 41–74 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-006-9006-4

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