Quality Assessment of River Offin along a Canopy Cover Gradient

Abstract

The potential effect of canopy cover on the quality of River Offin which serves as drinking water for communities including Hwediem, Mprim and Boanim in the Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti region of Ghana was studied. These communities exemplify Ghanaian farming communities. Often, rural farmers do not have access to clean water. Using the part of the river serving these communities as a test case, we assessed the quality of water along a gradient of three different levels of canopy cover (closed, semi-closed and open canopy) where residents frequently access water. Physico-chemical tests showed that, the level of most of the physical and chemical properties of the water under all three different canopy covers was within the acceptable limits set by the World Health Organization. There was low turbidity where the canopy was closed resulting in relatively lower faecal coliforms. Total dissolved solids were also less where canopy cover was closed. Therefore, the general water quality could be potentially improved by planting trees along the river to form canopy.