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| Source of water for people of Abronye curveso |
To access the quality of these water resources,
water quality campaign was carried out from January, 2011 to December 2012 on
some selected water resources in the region.
After
the assessment and comparing the results with Water Resources
Commission criteria for raw water, it was revealed that almost all
the ground water sources were slightly acidic and may have the potential
to
cause health problems to the users.
This was made known by Jackson Adiyiah
Nyantakyi, a programme officer at the Environmental Protection Agency at a
dissemination of environmental results in Sunyani.
He disclosed that the research took place in Rivers
Tain, Subin, Pru, Goa, Tano, Akokora as well as the Kintampo and the Fula waterfalls including some boreholes at places like Drobo, Jinijini, Atebubu and Kwame Danso Senior High schools and an
Artesian well at Bonsu near Nkoranza.
He has therefore called on NGOs and CWSA to first investigate
into the geology of places before drilling boreholes for communities. “Chambers
containing lime may be constructed and connected to the boreholes to increase
the pH before consumption”, he advised.
A senior programme officer at EPA, Anthony Duah, has
also called on District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies to purchase
noise detector metres to measure noise pollution to be able to prosecute those
who offend the law.
He further gave ways to help clamp down on noise
pollution as planting of trees in and around sound generating areas. He also advised
that churches are given a plan where temples will be designed in search a way
that suitable noise absorbing materials for the walls, windows and ceilings can
be used.
According to him, regulations should be imposed to
restrict the usage of playing loudspeakers in crowded and public places.
“Social awareness programmes should be taken up to educate
the public about the causes and effects of noise pollution”, he added.
The Principal Programme Officer of EPA, Samuel Oteng,
who spoke on behalf of the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the EPA, Philomena Boakye Appiah, stated
that the effective approach to handling environmental problems required a
multi-sectoral approach.
According to him, EPA Act, 1994(Act 940) mandates
the Agency to prescribe standard and guidelines relating to the population of
air, water, land and noise.
He mentioned that section 10(3)(e) of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act462) empowers the MMDAs to be responsible for the
development, improvement and management of human settlements and the
environment in the districts.
Mr. Oteng stated that to know the implications of one’s
activities and make informed decisions, the relevant information should be put
out appropriately and the media has the advantage of reaching the public, since
the media provides the largest platform for the dissemination of information
and creation of awareness.
“We as humans beings are entitled to a healthy and
productive life in harmony with nature, and this can be achieved only when we make
individual as well as collective effort to operationalize the concept of
sustainable development”, he added.
From Vivianna Mensah, Sunyani
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