Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 2-11-2021 2:00 PM Impact of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining on Water bodies and Treatment: The Case of Birim River Basin in Ghana Adwoa Boadua Yirenkyi Fianko, The University of Western Ontario Supervisor: Yanful, Ernest K., The University of Western Ontario A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering © Adwoa Boadua Yirenkyi Fianko 2021 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Environmental Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Yirenkyi Fianko, Adwoa Boadua, "Impact of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining on Water bodies and Treatment: The Case of Birim River Basin in Ghana" (2021). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 7639. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7639 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Abstract Water bodies, the source of drinking water for many rural households in mining areas are at risk of contamination due to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities. Water quality therefore remains a topical issue for policymakers and researchers. This research sought to achieve three objectives: firstly, to evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies and regulations about ASM in protecting waterbodies. Secondly, to determine the impact of ASM on waterbodies, health and livelihood of inhabitants in mining communities and thirdly, to remove heavy metals from water using locally available bio-adsorbents such as moringa seeds, coconut and corn husks.