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Impact of anthropogenic activities on the Densu River in Ghana
Author(s) -
Fianko J. R.,
Osae S.,
Achel D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2008.00137.x
Subject(s) - tributary , environmental science , pollution , aquatic ecosystem , brackish water , hydrology (agriculture) , ecosystem , river pollution , water pollution , organic matter , water resource management , environmental protection , environmental chemistry , ecology , geography , salinity , geology , chemistry , cartography , geotechnical engineering , biology
A detailed study has been carried out on the Densu River and its tributaries to identify the chemical characteristics of the water, examine the hydrological connections among the land cover types and evaluate the relative contributions of anthropogenic activities to the river's pollution. The results indicate that sites closer to the most urbanized, industrialized and agricultural areas are severely impaired. The river water was found to vary considerably in terms of chemical and physical properties. The water was slightly alkaline, brackish to fresh and of mixed Ca–Na–HCO 3 and Ca–HCO 3 types. Nutrient and organic matter were found to be the most frequent cause of pollution of the river. Pollution has reached such a proportion that it has destroyed the aquatic ecosystem in most exposed sections of the river.