Indexical Proxies and Geospatial Characterization of Hydrochemical and Trace Elements Pollution Using a Multi-Method Approach in the Southeastern Parts of Ghana
摘要
Population growth has exacerbated the impact of anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality, threatening the achievement of safe and clean water for all. The study area is fast-developing with increasing socio-economic activities, however, the implication of these activities and the natural processes on the groundwater quality is still an enigma within the catchment. Hence, indexical proxies: groundwater pollution index (GPI), water pollution index (WPI), comprehensive pollution index (CPI), water nutrient pollution index (WNPI), coupled with trace metals pollution index (TMPI), and ecological risk index (ERI), have been used together with multivariate statistics, prediction modeling, and sensitivity analysis to elucidate the groundwater pollution in the area. The objectives of the study are to characterize the groundwater pollution, infer pollution sources, and identify the most sensitive groundwater pollution indicators in the area using 63 borehole samples. The pollution indices applied show that 49.2%, 100%, 91%, 100%, and 5% of the study area are polluted based on GPI, WPI, WNPI, CPI, and TMPI, respectively. The metal pollution also has ecological implications on 8% of the area. The performance matrices of the prediction model show a model with high accuracy, with R2 and SEE values of 1 and 0.030, 1 and 0.030, 0.999 and 0.147, and then 0.999 and 0.028, respectively, for WPI, CPI, WNPI, and GPI. The sensitivity analysis shows that K+ and Cl− control WPI, GPI, and CPI pollutions, while K+ and PO4 control WNPI in the area. Tenbibian, Kuntunsu, Koforidua, and Kyekyewere are the most impacted communities based on indexical proxies evaluations.