Individuals and organisations planning to implement water projects have been tasked to first undertake pre-investigation about the geology of proposed sites for drilling boreholes.

Mr. Jackson Adiyiah Nyantakyi, Programme Officer at the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who made the call, said this would ensure the provision of clean and uncontaminated water.

He was presenting a report on the viability of selected water sources in the region, at a day’s programme, organised by the EPA in Sunyani.

The event was aimed at informing stakeholders about water quality status and to ensure prevention of future deterioration of aquatic ecosystem in the region.

It was attended by 50 participants including  journalists, Municipal and District Coordinating Directors, Planning Officers, representatives of the Ghana Water Company Limited, Food and Drugs Authority and Community Water and Sanitation Agency.

He said that some ground water sources have low pH (slightly acidic), probably due to geological condition, which may cause health problems.

Mr. Nyantakyi recommended that “Chambers containing lime should be constructed and connected to boreholes to increase the pH before consumption”.

He explained that the geology of a location affects pH of water bodies through chemical reactions, and cited that if underlying rock contains sulphide, the pH of the water would be low.

Mr. Nyantakyi said the report indicates that “the quality of surface water sources is generally good due to their cleansing effect but their safety cannot be guaranteed because bacteriological studies have not been done”.

He said there was the need for further studies on the microbial loads in selected water sources.

Mr. Nyantakyi  said over the decades there had been perceived decline in the quality and quantity of water sources in the region because there were no scientific data to either support or dispute that perception.

He said the EPA in accordance with section 2 (L) of Act 490,1994, carried out water quality campaign between January 2011 and December 2012 on 14 selected surface and ground  water sources in the region.

The sources included rivers River Tain, River Subin, River Goa, River Pru, River Tano, the Kintampo Water Falls and Fula Water Falls.

He asked stakeholders to collaborate to enforce environmental laws and environmental best practices.