Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.

org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

1
Assessment of the Quality of Shallow Groundwater for Irrigation
in the Atankwidi Sub-Basin of the White Volta Basin, Ghana

Sa(uel )arnie
1*
' +eohre, -. .nornu
2
an/ )enon, -o(la -ortatsi
3

1. 0eart(ent of .gri1usiness' &alle, &iew 2ni3ersit,' 4echi(an 5a(us
2. 0eart(ent of 5i3il 6ngineering' -wa(e N7ru(ah 2ni3ersit, of Science an/ 4echnolog,' -u(asi
3. 5SIR- 8ater Research Institute' .ccra
*6(ail of the correson/ing author9 sa(uel.1arnie:33u.e/u.gh

Abstract
4he otential use of shallow groun/water for s(all-scale /r, season irrigation is a 7e, issue for irrigation
/e3elo(ent in the ari/ ;one of +hana. <ar(ers within the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin of the 8hite &olta )asin are
increasingl, a/oting groun/water as a source of irrigation water /ue to the una3aila1ilit, of surface water
/uring the /r, season. =owe3er the >ualit, of the groun/water an/ its suita1ilit, for irrigation is not 7nown'
hence the nee/ to assess the >ualit, an/ its suita1ilit, in or/er to ensure sustaina1ilit, in the alication an/
ossi1le e?ansion of groun/water irrigation in the area. 4wo (ain water t,es (5a-@g-=5%
3
an/ Na-@g-5a-
=5%
3
! ha3e 1een /eter(ine/ using the Pier /iagra(. 4he relati3e a1un/ance of cations in the groun/water was
foun/ to 1e in the /ecreasing or/er of Na
A
B 5a
2A
B -
A
B @g
2A
B <e
2A
. Si(ilarl,' that of anions was foun/ to
ha3e a /ecreasing or/er of =5%
3
-
B S%
4
2-
B 5l
-
B P%
4
2-
B N%
3
-
B <
-
. +roun/water in the area ha/ low S.R an/
low to (e/iu( salinit, ha;ar/. =owe3er' (agnesiu( ha;ar/ an/ al7alinit, ro1le(s are li7el, to li(it its use
for irrigation.
eywords! Shallow +roun/water' =,/roche(ical facies' Irrigation 8ater Cualit,.

"# Introduction
+lo1all, there is a strong ositi3e relationshi 1etween higher /ensit, of irrigation an/ lower o3ert, rates' as
Diton et al. (2##3! in/icates. In .frica' onl, 3E of crolan/ is irrigate/ an/ the region has e?erience/ 3er,
little re/uction in o3ert, in the 1$$#s (8orl/ )an7' 2###!. In contrast' those regions that ha3e the greatest
roortion of culti3ate/ area irrigate/ (na(el, 6ast .sia' Pacific' North .frica an/ @i//le 6ast! ha3e
e?erience/ the greatest o3ert, re/uction. 4hat of +hana is ut at #.#2 E as at the en/ of 2##8. Irrigation of
so(e of these ara1le lan/s coul/ not (aterialise /ue to the roFecte/ caital in3ol3e(ent in channeling surface
water o3er long /istances to the irriga1le lan/s.
4he use of han/-/ug wells ena1les the utili;ation of shallow groun/water for irrigate/ ro/uction of 3egeta1les
an/ cash cros /uring the /r, season an/' therefore' ro3i/es an alternati3e source of inco(e for far(ers an/
oor househol/s. <or instance' the large scale ro/uction of shallot an/ other 3egeta1les using shallow
groun/water in the -eta Stri has ro3i/e/ enor(ous inco(e to the in/igenous inha1itants (-ortatsi an/
.g,e7u(' 2###!. In (ost cases' Shallow +roun/water Irrigation (S+I! has /e3eloe/ without an, go3ern(ent
or /onor in3ol3e(ent.
<ar(ers in the 8hite &olta )asin an/ the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin to 1e secific where this stu/, focuses hea3il,
rel, on shallow groun/water as a source of irrigation water /ue to the una3aila1ilit, of surface water in the /r,
season. .s this is far(er /ri3en' little is 7nown a1out the >ualit, of water use/ for the ro/uction of 3egeta1les
which crucial so far as far(ing is concern. 4his is 1ecause' 1esi/es affecting cro ,iel/ an/ soil h,sical
con/itions' irrigation water >ualit, can affect fertilit, nee/s' irrigation s,ste( erfor(ance an/ how the water
can 1e alie/. 4herefore' 7nowle/ge of irrigation water >ualit, is critical to un/erstan/ing what (anage(ent
changes are necessar, for long-ter( ro/ucti3it,. .1o3e all' water >ualit, anal,sis in general' an/ not li(ite/ to
irrigation water' is one of the (ost i(ortant issues in groun/water stu/ies. It re3eals the suita1ilit, of the water
for /ifferent uroses an/ also hels to un/erstan/ the ossi1le change in >ualit, ro1a1l, /ue to roc7-water
interaction or anthroogenic effects. 4he (ain o1Fecti3e of this aer is therefore to assess the shallow
groun/water >ualit, for irrigation in the stu/, area which will infor( 1oth olic, an/ /ecision (a7ers so far as
S+I in the area is concern.

$# Study Area
2.1 Location and Size
4he .tan7wi/i su1-1asin is locate/ 1etween latitu/es 1#
o
4$G4H N an/ 1#
o
""G3" N an/ longitu/inal #
o
""G2H 8
an/ #
o
"$G2H 8' a tri1utar, of the 8hite &olta locate/ in the 2er 6ast Region of +hana 1etween Na3rongo
an/ )olgatanga (-assena Nan7ana 0istrict! with its uer reach in )ur7ina <aso as shown in <igure 1. 4he su1-
1asin is locate/ in one of the areas with the highest groun/water use er 7(I in the &olta Ri3er 1asin (@artin
2##6!. 4he su1-1asin co3ers an area of a1out 2H" 7(
2
of the 8hite &olta 1asin.

Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

2

<igure 1. @a of the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin
2.2 Climate and Vegetation
4he stu/, area falls within the Su/an-Sa3anna cli(ate ;one' which is characterise/ 1, high te(eratures an/ a
uni-(o/al rainfall /istri1ution with a /istinct rain, season lasting aro?i(atel, fro( @a, to Sete(1er. 4he
(ean annual rainfall in Na3rongo is aro?i(atel, $8#((. 4he satio-te(oral /istri1utions of reciitation
an/ e3aoration ha3e a large i(act on the water regi(e inclu/ing the groun/water 3aria1ilit,. In the rain,
season /ail, rainfall (a, e?cee/ "# ((' this falls in less than one hour. @onthl, rainfall onl, e?cee/s otential
e3aoration in the three wettest (onths' Jul,' .ugust an/ Sete(1er. 4he total otential e3aoration is 2#"# (('
which is twice the annual rainfall. 4he a3erage annual te(erature is 2$
o
5. 4he (ean /ail, (ini(u(
te(erature is 2"
o
5' coinci/ing with the ea7 of the rain, season' an/ rises to a (a?i(u( of 34
o
5 in .ril.
Relati3e hu(i/it, is highest /uring the rain, season with 6" E. It /ros >uic7l, after the en/ of the rain, season
in %cto1er' reaching a low of less than 1# E /uring the har(attan erio/ in 0ece(1er an/ Januar, (@artin'
2##6!.
2.3 Land Use
%en tree-sa3anna for(s the natural 3egetation in the 2er 6ast Region. 4rees show a large sacing an/ the
area is largel, co3ere/ with grass an/ shru1s. 4he (ost co((on econo(ic trees are the sheanut' /awa/awa'
1oa1a1 an/ acacia. 5o((on grasses inclu/e Andropogen gayyanus in the less ero/e/ areas an/ Hyperrhenia
spp.' Aristida spp. an/ Heteropogen spp. in the se3erel, ero/e/ areas. @ost of the area is use/ for s(all-scale
agriculture. 0uring the rain, season' al(ost H# E of the area is co3ere/ with s(all lots of rainfe/ agriculture
(@artin' 2##6!. %ther arts of the area are use/ for li3estoc7 gra;ing an/ /rin7ing. In the /r, season' the a(ount
of agriculture is su1stantiall, lower' aro?i(atel, 1 E of the area (2nofficial reort' +&P' 2##H!. 4he other
arts of agricultural lan/ re(ain as 1are soil until the ne?t rain, season starts. Dan/ not use/ for agriculture is
either sarse 3egetation on shallow soils in ston, areas or lan/ use/ for the gra;ing of li3estoc7' which is
co3ere/ 1, grass' shru1s an/ trees.
2.4 Relief and Drainage
4he relief of the su1-1asin is generall, flat' gentl, un/ulating with sloes ranging fro( 1E to "E e?cet in a few
ulan/s where sloes are a1out 1#E. .ccor/ing to ./u (1$6$!' the relief of the 26R is relate/ to the geolog,'
where a range of )iri(ian greenstone hills rising u to 4"H( a1o3e sea le3el /o(inate north of )aw7u an/
Je1illa along the 1or/er with )ur7ina <aso an/ in the southwest along the 8hite &olta Ri3er (8&R!. 4he
granite areas are generall, of low' gentl, rolling relief ranging fro( 122 ( to 26# ( a1o3e sea le3el. 4he relief
Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

3
un/er &oltain roc7s has si(ilar characteristics to granites' with few escar(ents rising a1o3e "18 ( near the
1or/er with 4ogo in the east. 4he (ean ele3ation for the area is 1$H ( a1o3e sea le3el (Die1e' 2##2!.
2.5 Geological setting
4hree for(ations of the )iri(ian /o(ain can 1e /istinguishe/ in the stu/, area (<igure 2! fro( the geological
(a 1912"'###' sheets Na3rongo (&an /en )erg et al., 1$63! an/ Juarungo (@urra, an/ @itchell' 1$6#!. 4hese
are9 )iri(ian (etase/i(entsK +ranitoi/s (grano/iorites' granite an/ gneiss! associate/ with the )iri(ianK
Intrusi3e )ongo granite. Paleorotero;oic granitoi/s consisting of horn1len/e - 1iotite grano/iorite' 1iotite
granite an/ 1iotite gneiss (a7e u the largest art of the stu/, area an/ for( the slightl, un/ulating south-
western art of the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin. )iri(ian (etase/i(ents (a/e u of h,llite' schist an/ >uart;ite are
foun/ in s(all atches a(ong the granitoi/s.


<igure 2. +eological an/ /rainage (a of the stu/, area.

%# &aterials and &ethods
+roun/water sa(les were collecte/ fro( 4# wells in @arch 2##$ for (aFor an/ (inor ions anal,ses. Sa(ling
rotocols accor/ing to 8oo/ (1$81!' 5laasen (1$82!' an/ )arcelona et al (1$8"! were followe/. 4he (a of
groun/water sa(ling oints is shown in <igure 3. 8ater sa(les accor/ing to stan/ar/s were collecte/ after
u(ing the well for a1out " (inutes in or/er to urge the well of stagnant water. 4he urging was /one to
sta1ili;e/ te(erature' = an/ electrical con/ucti3it, rea/ings.<or (etal anal,sis' sa(les were filtere/ through
#.4"L( filters an/ reser3e/ with "(l 6 N =N%
3
in la1orator, treate/ 1##(l high /ensit, linear ol,eth,lene
1ottles. =owe3er' sa(les for anion anal,ses were without reser3ation. 4he 2ni3ersal 5on/ucti3it, @eter
@ultiline P4 set that ha/ an in-1uilt te(erature co(ensation ro1e was use/ to (easure electrical con/ucti3it,
an/ te(erature si(ultaneousl,. <or the /eter(ination of total al7alinit, (as =5%
3
-
!' fiel/ titration with 1.6 N
=
2
S%
4
to = M4." using =.5= 0igital @ulti Sa(ler @o/el 16$# was /one.
Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

4

<igure 3. @a of +roun/water sa(ling locations
5he(ical anal,ses for all (aFor ions (Na
A
' 5a
2
' @g
2A
' =5%
3
-
' 5l
-
' S%
4
2-
! as well as so(e (inor ions (-
A
' N%
3
-
'
<
-
' P%
4
2-
! were carrie/ out with the 0ione? 0N-12# ion chro(atograh at the 6n3iron(ental 5he(istr,
Da1orator, at the 8ater Research Institute of +hana. @anganese (@n! an/ Iron (<e! were also /eter(ine/ with
(ass sectro(eter 2NI5.@ 386 in the sa(e la1orator,. In accor/ance with international stan/ar/s' results with
ionic 1alance (ore than "E were reFecte/.

'# (esults and )iscussion
4.1P!sico"cemical #nal!sis of $ater sam%les
4he results of h,sico-che(ical anal,sis of groun/water sa(les fro( the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin are su((arise/
in 4a1le 1

Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

"
4a1le 19 Su((ar, of h,sico-che(ical water >ualit, ara(eters in the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin
*arameter &inimum &a+imum &ean &edian S,)
,em-
-.
/0
,)S
,SS
,urb
Br
$

0a
0l
12
$

12
%

*2
'

S2
'

1a

3
.02
%

0a.
&g.
&g
&n
3e
4n
26.4#
6.H3
1##.##
"".##
1.##
1.H"
#.##
".6#
3.##
#.##1
#.##1
#.#1
4.##
H.8#
1.4
#.#3
12.2#
14.##
3.$
#.$#
#.##"
#.#2
#.##"
34.##
H.$3
484.##
266.2#
2$4.##
316
1.$8
4#.$
44.##
#.12
1#.1#
14.3#
84.##
H#.$#
2".3#
#.6"
2"8.64
1#2.##
HH.8
18.$#
#.6"
13.1
#.#6
2$.$4
H.24
236.2"
12$.$4
"".1$
6$.23
#.4H
1".2H
1"."4
#.#2
1.#6
3."2
23.42
24.H$
$.H6
#.33
11H.$H
3H."6
26.$$
6."H
#.12
2.2"
#.#2
2$.$#
H.21
21H."
11$.63
31."#
36.2"
#.34
13.2
12.$#
#.#2
#.43
2.$"
2#.##
2#.1"
1#.6"
#.3"
11H.12
33.1#
2".8"
6.2"
#.#4
#.$$
#.#1
1.$2
#.33
$$.88
"4.$3
6$.H$
81."3
#.4H
8.36
$.28
#.#3
1.8$
2.42
16.$"
16.16
".12
#.18
62.$8
2#."1
14.6"
3.36
#.18
3.##
#.#1
.ll concentrations are (easure/ in (gOl' = in = unit' 4ur1i/it, in N42' electrical con/ucti3it, in LSOc( an/
te(erature in
o
5.
+enerall,' the che(ical constituents of the groun/water sa(les are low as shown in <igure 4' with =5%
3
-
as
the re/o(inant anion which is 7nown to 1e 3er, consistent with the che(istr, of (ost natural waters in granitic
for(ations (<ree;e an/ 5herr,' 1$H$!. N%
3
-
an/ <
-
occur in (inor concentrations co(are/ with the other
anions. 4he /ecreasing or/er of cations in the groun/water sa(les is in or/er of Na
A
B 5a
2A
B -
A
B @g
2A
B <e
2A

an/ that of anions is =5%
3
-
B S%
4
2-
B 5l
-
B P%
4
2-
B N%
3
-
B <
-
.

<igure 4. @e/ian concentration of che(ical constituents in the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin

Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

6
4.2 &!drocemical facies of gro'nd(ater sam%les
=,/roche(ical facies are /istinct ;ones that ossess cation an/ anion concentration categories (Sa/ashi3aiah et
al.' 2##8!. 4he che(ical anal,sis results of the groun/water sa(les in the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin has 1een
resente/ 1, lotting the( on a Pier tri-linear /iagra( (Pier' 1$44! in <igure " which re3eals the analogies'
/issi(ilarities an/ /ifferent t,es of waters in the su1-1asin.



<igure ". Pier /iagra( of groun/water sa(les fro( the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin
In the cation lot fiel/ (triangle on the left! of the Pier tri-linear /iagra(' "#E of the groun/water sa(les lot
(ainl, in the (i//le which suggests (i?e/ cations with no /o(inant cation t,e whiles the other "#E of the
sa(les /eicts Na-- as the re/o(inant cation t,e. =owe3er' in the anion lot fiel/ (triangle on the right!'
al(ost all the sa(les lotte/ are towar/s the =5%
3
-
corner which again suggests =5%
3
-
as the re/o(inant
anion.
4he groun/water sa(les lotte/ in the 5a-@g-=5%
3
/o(inant of the /ia(on/ fiel/ (section .! suggests acti3e
recharge' short resi/ence ti(e an/ te(orar, har/ness (-ortatsi et al.' 2##8!. 4his t,e of waters usuall, has
che(ical roerties which are /o(inate/ 1, al7aline earths an/ wea7 aci/s (-aranth' 1$$4!' an/ aarentl, not
associate/ with a articular geological for(ation (-ortatsi et al.' 2##8! 1ut (a, ha3e e(anate/ fro( either
/olo(ite (5a@g (5%
3
!
2
! or calcite (5a5%
3
! in roc7 (atri?. So(e (3" E! of the groun/water sa(les (section )!
also showe/ (i?e/ t,e of water with no cation-anion e?cee/ing "# E. 4his water secificall, is (ore of the
Na-@g-5a-=5%
3
(i?e/ t,e of water.
4.3 )rrigation $ater *'alit!
4he e3aluation of groun/water >ualit, for irrigation in this stu/, was 1ase/ on the following factors9
i. Salinit, (total a(ount of /issol3e/ salts in water!'
ii. So/iu( ha;ar/ (the a(ount of so/iu( in the water co(are/ to calciu( lus (agnesiu(!'
iii. @agnesiu( ha;ar/ (@=!' an/
i3. = an/ total al7alinit,.
4.3.1 Salinit! &azard
4he (ost influential water >ualit, gui/eline on cro ro/ucti3it, is the water salinit, ha;ar/ as (easure/ 1,
electrical con/uctance ()au/er et al.' 2##H!. =igh concentration of salinit, (electrical con/ucti3it,! in irrigation
Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

H
water affect cro ,iel/ through the ina1ilit, of the lant to co(ete with ions in the soil solution for water
(os(otic effect or h,siological /rought!. 4he se3erit, of the os(otic effect (a, 3ar, with the lants growth
stage an/ in so(e cases (a, go unnotice/ 1ecause of a unifor( ,iel/ /ecline o3er the whole cro (+eorge'
1$H$!. 4a1le 2 shows the classification of groun/water sa(les for irrigation water use 1ase/ uon electrical
con/ucti3it,.
4a1le 29 5lassification of groun/water sa(les in .tan7wi/i su1-1asin for Irrigation water use 1ase/ on
electrical con/ucti3it, ()au/er et al' 2##H!
1umber of
sam-les
*ercentage /lectrical 0onducti5ity
67S8cm9
0lasses of Water
26
14
#
#
#
6"
3"
#
#
#
P2"#
2"# Q H"#
H"# Q 2###
2### Q 3###
R3###
5lass 19 6?cellent
5lass 29 +oo/
5lass 39 Per(issi1le
5lass 49 0ou1tful
5lass "9 2nsuita1le
4.3.2 Sodi'm &azard
.ccor/ing to -aranth (1$$4!' e?cessi3e Na
A
content of irrigation water ren/ers it unsuita1le for soils containing
e?changea1le 5a
2A
an/ @g
2A
ions as the soil ta7e u Na
A
in e?change for 5a
2A
an/ @g
2A
causing /eflocculation
(/isersion! an/ i(air(ent of the tilth an/ er(ea1ilit, of soils. 4he so/iu( ha;ar/ is t,icall, e?resse/ as
the so/iu( a/sortion ratio (S.R!. 4he general classifications of groun/water sa(les in the stu/, area for
irrigation 1ase/ on S.R 3alues accor/ing to )au/er et al' (2##H! generall, showe/ low S.R.
4.3.3 Classification of )rrigation $ater *'alit!
8hen the salinit, an/ so/iu( a1sortion ratio (S.R! of water are 7nown' the classification of irrigation waters
can 1e /eter(ine/ 1, grahicall, lotting these 3alues on the 8ilco? /iagra( (8ilco? an/ 0uru(' 1$6H!. 4he
/iagra( e?resses the relationshi 1etween so/iu( (S.R! an/ salinit, (65! ha;ar/s' in other wor/s' it e?resses
the integrate/ effect of 1oth so/iu( an/ salinit, ha;ar/s of irrigation waters. 4hat for the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin
was therefore lotte/ as shown in <igure 6.

<igure 6. 5lassification of irrigation waters in the .tan7wi/i su1-1asin
4.3.4 +agnesi'm &azard
@agnesiu( is 1elie3e/ to 1e inFurious to lants' 1ut the har(ful effect is greatl, re/uce/ 1, the resence of
calciu(. 4he (agnesiu( ha;ar/ (@=! is /efine/ as 1##@g (5a A @g!
-1
with the che(ical constituents
e?resse/ as (e>Ol. 4he classification of groun/water sa(les accor/ing to S;a1olcs an/ 0ara1 (1$64! 1ase/ on
(agnesiu( ha;ar/ is shown in 4a1le 3
Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

8
4a1le 39 5lassification of groun/water sa(les in .tan7wi/i su1-1asin 1ase/ on @agnesiu( ha;ar/ (S;a1olcs
an/ 0ara1' 1$64!.
1umber of wells *ercentage &agnesium ha:ard
;"<<&g60a = &g9
-"
>
Water classification
$?
""
H2."
2H."
S"#
B"#
0esira1le
2n/esira1le (/eleterious to
(ost cros!
4he groun/water sa(le/ ha/ 2H."E of the( with @= a1o3e "# i(l,ing that' (agnesiu( ha;ar/ is a otential
ro1le( associate/ with the groun/water in the stu/, area shoul/ it 1e use/ for irrigation.
4.3.5 %& and #l,alinit!
.l7alinit, is relate/ to =' 1ecause water with high al7alinit, has a high T1uffering caacit,U or caacit, for
neutralising a//e/ aci/s. 4he (aFor che(icals resonsi1le for al7alinit, in water are the /issol3e/ car1onates
an/ 1icar1onates fro( the geologic (aterials of the a>uifer fro( which the water is /rawn. 4he /issol3e/
car1onates an/ 1icar1onates increase the (e/ia = o3er ti(e 1, neutralising =
A
ions in the (e/ia solution.
.lthough there are no esta1lishe/ oti(u( or to?ic le3els for al7alinit,' t,ical reco((en/ations range fro(
3H." Q 13# (gOl 5a5%
3
(8ill an/ <aust' 1$$$!. 4he concentration of al7alinit, 3arie/ fro( 1# Q 216 (gOl with
the (ean' (e/ian an/ stan/ar/ /e3iation of $6.H' $6 an/ "1.62 (gOl resecti3el,. 22."E of the total groun/water
sa(les ha/ their concentrations a1o3e this /esira1le range ro1a1l, /ue to the relati3el, high concentrations of
1icar1onate (=5%
3
-
! in the sa(les. Nonetheless' " E of the groun/water sa(les ha/ low al7alinit,
concentrations. Dow al7alinit, of irrigation water ro3i/es no 1uffering caacit, against = changes which lea/s
to the /ecline of (e/ia solution = when aci/-resi/ue fertilisers are use/ (8ill an/ <aust' 1$$$!.
4.3.- #ssessment of )rrigation (ater .'alit! /ased +& and 0otal #l,alinit!
4he irrigation water >ualit, was assesse/ 1ase/ on all the criteria use/ (S.R' salinit, ha;ar/' (agnesiu( ha;ar/
an/ al7alinit,! to 7now the ercentage of groun/water sa(les that fell within the reco((en/e/ ranges.


<igure H. .ssess(ent of irrigation water >ualit, 1ase/ on @= an/ al7alinit,
<igure H shows the assess(ent of groun/water sa(les 1ase/ on 1oth (agnesiu( ha;ar/ an/ total al7alinit,.
Since all the groun/water sa(les fell within the reco((en/e/ ranges of 1oth so/iu( (S.R! an/ salinit,
ha;ar/s at the sa(e ti(e' the onl, li(itations will 1e fro( (agnesiu( ha;ar/ an/ al7alinit,. 4herefore the
ercentages of sa(les that fall within the /esira1le ranges of 1oth (agnesiu( ha;ar/ an/ al7alinit, at the sa(e
ti(e are consi/ere/ to 1e the ercentage of sa(les with a1solutel, no li(itation. 8ith this assu(tion' the
ercentage of sa(les that fall within the reco((en/e/ region of the <igure a1o3e is "2." E with 2" E an/
22." E of the sa(les with (agnesiu( ha;ar/ an/ al7alinit, ro1le(s resecti3el,.
It is howe3er worth (entioning that the otential ro1le(s i/entifie/ were not area secific so far as the stu/,
area is concern which literature suggests that' it (a, /ue to the /ifferent recharge atterns of the a>uifer s,ste(.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225
M
a
g
n
e
s
i
u
m

H
a
z
a
r
d

Concentration of total Alalinit! "mg#l CaC$3%
&ater sam'les
(o )uffering
ca'acit!
*esira)le
range
*ou)tful
*esira)le
+ndesira)le
Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

$
@# 0onclusion
4wo (ain water t,es (5a-@g-=5%
3
an/ Na-@g-5a-=5%
3
! ha3e 1een /elineate/ using the Pier /iagra(.
<urther(ore' the relati3e a1un/ance of cations in the groun/water is in the or/er of Na
A
B 5a
2A
B -
A
B @g
2A
B
<e
2A
. =5%
3
-
was howe3er the re/o(inant anion which also ha/ a /ecreasing or/er of =5%
3
-
B S%
4
2-
B 5l
-
B
P%
4
2-
B N%
3
-
B <
-
. 4he suita1ilit, of groun/water for irrigation e3aluate/ 1ase/ on so/iu( (S.R!' salinit, an/
(agnesiu( ha;ar/s' = an/ al7alinit, showe/ low S.R an/ low to (e/iu( salinit, ha;ar/ an/ is therefore
goo/ for irrigation 1ut with so(e otential (agnesiu( ha;ar/ an/ al7alinit, ro1le(s which artiall, li(its its
use for irrigation 1, /e3eloing so/ic soil con/itions with continuous use. 0ue to the (agnesiu( ha;ar/
ro1le(s that were recor/e/ in so(e of the areas which also actuall, increase slightl, the otential effect of
so/iu( on soils' soil con/itions shoul/ also 1e (onitore/ with ti(e to ascertain an, ro1le( of so/icit, an/ if
necessar, leach the soil. +roun/water >ualit, in the su1-1asin shoul/ also 1e (onitore/ regularl, to ensure earl,
/etection an/ inter3ention of an, ollution or conta(ination that (a, occur /ue to the susceti1ilit, of the
regional a>uifer s,ste( to ollution (wee/ici/es' estici/es etc.!.

(eferences
./u' S.&. (1$6$!. Soils of the Na3rongo-)aw7u area' 2er Region' +hana. @e(oir No. "' Soil Research
Institute' -u(asi' +hana' 1##
.,res' R.S. an/ 8estcott' 0.8. (1$H6!. 8ater >ualit, for agriculture. <...%. Irrigation an/ 0rainage Paer No.
2$ <...%. Ro(e.
)arcelona' @.' +i11' J. P.' =elfrich' J. .. an/ +ars7e' 6. 6. (1$8"!. Practical gui/e for groun/water sa(ling.
Illinois State 8ater Sur3e, IS8S contract reort 3H4' 5ha(aign.
)au/er' 4...' 8as7o(' R.@. an/ 0a3is' J. +. (2##H!. Irrigation 8ater Cualit, 5riteria. 6?tension <act Sheet no.
#."#6' 5olora/o State 2ni3ersit,. 1-".
5lassen' =. 5. (1$82!. +ui/elines an/ techni>ues for o1taining water sa(les that accuratel, reresent the
>ualit, of an a>uifer. 2. S. +eological Sur3e, oen file reort 82-1#24' Da7ewoo/' 4$.
0issana,a7e 5.). (2##1!. 4he fluori/e ro1le( in the groun/water of Sri Dan7er-en3iron(ental (anage(ent
an/ health. Int. J. 6n3iron(ental Stu/ies 1$9 1$"-2#3
<ree;e' R. ..' an/ 5herr,' J. .. (1$H$!. +roun/water. Prentice =all Inc.' 6nglewoo/ 5liffs' New Jerse,.
+eorge' P.R. (1$H$!. Soil an/ water salinit, ro1le(s in the 5ollie irrigation area. In Dan/ an/ Stea( Salinit,
Se(inar' P.8.0. 8est. .ustralia No3. 1$8#.
+lowa &olta ProFect (2##H!. .ssess(ent of +hanaian 5i3il Societ, %rganisations in the 8ater Sector. +&P
(unofficial! Reort' .ccra.
+or/on' J. an/ =ailin' J. (2##3!. 5lassification of Irrigation 8ater Cualit,. %7laho(a 5ooerati3e 6?tension
Ser3ice <act Sheets. 0i3ision of .gricultural Sciences an/ Natural Resources' %7laho(a State 2ni3ersit,.
24#1-1 Q 24#1-4
-aranth' -.R. (1$$4!. +roun/water assess(ent' /e3elo(ent an/ (anage(ent. 4ata @c+raw-=ill Pu1lishing
5o(an, Di(ite/' New 0elhi.
-ell,' 8. R. an/ 8ilson' S. 0. (1$$8!.4e(oral 5hanges in Shallow +roun/water Cualit, In Northeastern
Illinois. +roun/water Section' Illinois State 8ater Sur3e, 5ha(aign' ID 6182#. 1-13.
-ortatsi' ). -. an/ .g,e7u(' 8. .. (2###!.+roun/water e?loration in rural +hana-4he .gricultural Sector
In3est(ent ProFect (.SIP! e?a(le. Procee/ings9 Sustaining groun/water e?loration an/ /e3elo(ent in the
21st centur, in +hana. JVrgensen N. %. WXa7o1-)anoeg ). (e/! 2ni3ersit, of +hana' Degon' .ccra.
-ortatsi' ). -.' .n7u' X. S. .. an/ .nornu' +. -. (2##8!. 5haracteri;ation an/ araisal of facets influencing
geoche(istr, of groun/water in the -ulawn su1-1asin of the 8hite &olta )asin' +hana. 6n3iron(ental
+eolog, Journal. 0%I 1#.1##HOs##2"4-##8-1638-$.
Die1e' J. (2##2!. T6sti(ation of 8ater Storage 5aacit, an/ 63aoration Dosses of S(all Reser3oirs in the
2er 6ast Region of +hanaU. @aster thesis' <acult, of @athe(atics an/ Natural Sciences' 2ni3ersit, of )onn'
+er(an,.
Diton' @.' Jul,' D.' an/ Jean-@arie' <. (2##3!. 4he effects of irrigation on o3ert,9 a fra(ewor7 for anal,sis.
8ater Polic, "("O6!9 413-42H.
@ac/onal/' ..' 0a3ies' J.' 5alow' R. an/ 5hilton' J. (2##"!. 0e3eloing +roun/water9 . gui/e for Rural 8ater
Sul,. I40+ Pu1lishing' 8arwic7shire 5&23 $CJ' 2-. 241-2H$.
@artin' N. (2##6!. T0e3elo(ent of a water 1alance for the .tan7wi/i catch(ent' 8est .frica Q . case stu/, of
groun/water recharge in a se(i-ari/ cli(ateU. 0octoral thesis' 2ni3ersit, of +Yttingen' +er(an,.
@urra, R. J. an/ @itchell' J. (1$6#!. +eological @a of Juarungu 1912"'###. +hana +eological Sur3e, )ulletin'
2"' +eological Sur3e,' .ccra.
NagaraFu' ..' Suresh' S.' -illha(' -.' =u/son-6/war/s' -.' (2##"!. =,/rogeoche(istr, of 8aters of
@anga(eta )arite @ining .rea' 5u//aah )asin' .n/hra Pra/esh' In/ia. 4ur7ish Journal of 6ngineering an/
6n3iron(ental Science 3# (2##6!' 2#3 Q 21$. 4u1ita7.
Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org
ISSN 2224-3186 (Paer! ISSN 222"-#$21 (%nline!
&ol.4' No.1"' 2#14

1#
Sa/ashi3aiah' 5.' Ra(a7rishnaiah' 5. R. an/ Ranganna' +. (2##8!. =,/roche(ical .nal,sis an/ 63aluation of
+roun/water Cualit, in4u(7ur 4alu7' -arnata7a State' In/ia. Int. J. 6n3iron. Res. Pu1lic =ealth 2##8' "(3!
1"8-164
Schaefer' ..I.' Rossiter' =.@...' %wusu' P...' Richar/s' ).S.' .wuah' 6. (2##$!. Ph,sico-che(ical water
>ualit, in +hana9 Prosects for water sul, technolog, i(le(entation. 0esalination Journal ### 1-13.
4o//' 0.-. (1$8#!. +roun/water h,/rolog,' 2
n/
e/ition' 8ile,' New Xor7' "3".
&an /en )erg' R.' Daughton 5... an/ +ill S... (1$63!. +eological @a of Na3rongo 1912"'###. +hana
+eological Sur3e, )ulletin' 36' +eological Sur3e,' .ccra.
&an /en )erg' J. (2##8!. 6?loring Shallow +roun/water Irrigation9 5urrent status an/ future alications Q .
case stu/, in the .tan7wi/i catch(ent' +hana. @Sc. 4hesis' 0elft 2ni3ersit, of 4echnolog,' 0elft' Netherlan/s.
1- 32.
8ilco?' D. &. an/ 0uru(' 8. =. (1$6H!. Cualit, of irrigation water. In.=agan R@' =aise =R' 6/(inister 4@
(e/s! Irrigation of agricultural lan/' agrono(, (onograh No. 11. .(erican Societ, of .grono(,' @a/ison'
1#4-122.
8ill' 6.' <aust' J. 6.' (1$$$!. Irrigation 8ater Cualit, for +reenhouse Pro/uction. .gricultural 6?tension
Ser3ice' 2ni3ersit, of 4ennessee. P)161H-1@-2O$$9 2-3.
8oo/' 8. 8. (1$81!. +ui/elines for collection an/ fiel/ anal,sis of groun/water sa(les for selecte/ unsta1le
constituents. 2. S. +eological Sur3e, techni>ues of water resources in3estigations 1oo7 1' ch 02. 2. S.
+o3ern(ent Printing %ffice' 8ashington 0. 5.
8orl/ )an7. (2###!. .ttac7ing Po3ert,. 8orl/ 0e3elo(ent Reort 2###O2##1. New Xor79 %?for/ 2ni3ersit,
Press.
The IISTE is a pioneer in the Open-Access hosting service and academic event
management. The aim of the firm is Accelerating Global Knowledge Sharing.

More information about the firm can be found on the homepage:
http://www.iiste.org

CALL FOR JOURNAL PAPERS
There are more than 30 peer-reviewed academic journals hosted under the hosting
platform.
Prospective authors of journals can find the submission instruction on the
following page: http://www.iiste.org/journals/ All the journals articles are available
online to the readers all over the world without financial, legal, or technical barriers
other than those inseparable from gaining access to the internet itself. Paper version
of the journals is also available upon request of readers and authors.

MORE RESOURCES
Book publication information: http://www.iiste.org/book/

IISTE Knowledge Sharing Partners
EBSCO, Index Copernicus, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, JournalTOCS, PKP Open
Archives Harvester, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, Elektronische
Zeitschriftenbibliothek EZB, Open J-Gate, OCLC WorldCat, Universe Digtial
Library , NewJour, Google Scholar


Business, Economics, Finance and Management Journals PAPER SUBMISSION EMAIL
European Journal of Business and Management EJBM@iiste.org
Research Journal of Finance and Accounting RJFA@iiste.org
Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development JESD@iiste.org
Information and Knowledge Management IKM@iiste.org
Journal of Developing Country Studies DCS@iiste.org
Industrial Engineering Letters IEL@iiste.org
Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Chemistry Journals PAPER SUBMISSION EMAIL
Journal of Natural Sciences Research JNSR@iiste.org
Journal of Chemistry and Materials Research CMR@iiste.org
Journal of Mathematical Theory and Modeling MTM@iiste.org
Advances in Physics Theories and Applications APTA@iiste.org
Chemical and Process Engineering Research CPER@iiste.org
Engineering, Technology and Systems Journals PAPER SUBMISSION EMAIL
Computer Engineering and Intelligent Systems CEIS@iiste.org
Innovative Systems Design and Engineering ISDE@iiste.org
Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy JETP@iiste.org
Information and Knowledge Management IKM@iiste.org
Journal of Control Theory and Informatics CTI@iiste.org
Journal of Information Engineering and Applications JIEA@iiste.org
Industrial Engineering Letters IEL@iiste.org
Journal of Network and Complex Systems NCS@iiste.org
Environment, Civil, Materials Sciences Journals PAPER SUBMISSION EMAIL
Journal of Environment and Earth Science JEES@iiste.org
Journal of Civil and Environmental Research CER@iiste.org
Journal of Natural Sciences Research JNSR@iiste.org
Life Science, Food and Medical Sciences PAPER SUBMISSION EMAIL
Advances in Life Science and Technology ALST@iiste.org
Journal of Natural Sciences Research JNSR@iiste.org
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare JBAH@iiste.org
Journal of Food Science and Quality Management FSQM@iiste.org
Journal of Chemistry and Materials Research CMR@iiste.org
Education, and other Social Sciences PAPER SUBMISSION EMAIL
Journal of Education and Practice JEP@iiste.org
Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization JLPG@iiste.org
Journal of New Media and Mass Communication NMMC@iiste.org
Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy JETP@iiste.org
Historical Research Letter HRL@iiste.org
Public Policy and Administration Research PPAR@iiste.org
International Affairs and Global Strategy IAGS@iiste.org
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences RHSS@iiste.org
Journal of Developing Country Studies DCS@iiste.org
Journal of Arts and Design Studies ADS@iiste.org