Agenda

Adwoba Kua-Manza EDJAH, Department of Nuclear Chemistry and Environmental Research Centre, Isotope Hydrology Laboratory (Ghana Atomic Energy Commission) Ghana, Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana Legon

Abstract:
This research will develop an effectual management model for the sustainable economic usage of groundwater resources in the Lower Tano river Basin in Ghana, West-Africa. The inefficient development and management of surface and groundwater resources for sustainable economic usage in the basin, has been identified as the main factor responsible for illegal mining and high levels of poverty in the basin. This research therefore aims to contribute to an improved understanding of the Hydrogeology of the Lower Tano river basin in order to support a sustainable groundwater abstraction from the aquifer for productive economic usage. It also aims at determining the optimal withdrawal levels in groundwater to support economic uses in the basin, without unduly damaging the aquifers or destroying or hampering the wellbeing and development of the ecological system. To this end, a three dimensional groundwater flow model, with a robust solver, MODFLOW, will be used to build and calibrate a groundwater flow model. In addition, this research will use geophysics, hydrochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, multivariate statistical methods, conventional mass balance procedures and isotopes to determine the quality of groundwater, recharge zones, age of the groundwater, aquifer delineation and hydrochemical genesis of groundwater from the basin. This research being the first of its kind in the basin will serve as a useful tool for advising government, and non-governmental agencies as well as groundwater scientists on the best practices for the sustainable use of groundwater for economic purposes in rural settlements of Ghana.