The hydrochemical framework of surface water basins in Southern Ghana

Surface water resources play a crucial role in the domestic water delivery system in Ghana. In addition, sustainable food production is based on the quality and quantity of water resources available for irrigation purposes to supplement rain-fed agricultural activities. The objective of this research was to determine the main controls on the hydrochemistry of surface water resources in southern Ghana and assess the quality of water from these basins for irrigation purposes. R-mode factor and cluster analyses were applied to six hundred and twenty-five (625) data points from six river basins after the data was log transformed and standardized for homogeneity. The surface water chemistry in the south is controlled by the chemistry of rainfall, fertilizers from agricultural activities in the area, as well as the weathering of carbonate minerals. Silicate mineral weathering from the underlying sediments and rocks appears to play a minor role in the hydrochemistry at the regional level. In addition, an assessment of the irrigation quality of water from these basins suggests that the basins are largely low sodium-low to medium salinity basins, delivering water of acceptable quality for irrigation.