The pH of drinking water and its human health implications: a case of surrounding communities in the Dormaa Central Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Background: The pH of drinking water still feels like kind of an un examined part of water safety, even though it has big public health effects. When the water is acidic, meaning low pH, it tends to go with higher levels of heavy metals like Pb, As, Cu, Ni, Cr and Zn, these can be dangerous for toxicity and cause organ harm. At the same time, disease-causing bacteria are also said to multiply in too- acidic spaces. There are also indirect cost issues from this kind of water, for example metallic taste, laundry staining and even blue-green discoloration on household fittings. Objective: To look at the pH levels of drinking water sources across different communities within the Dormaa Central Municipality, and to judge what this might mean for public health of the people living there. Methods: Water samples and their matching locations were taken from several communities in the Dormaa Central Municipality. The pH value, basically the potential of hydrogen, for each sample was measured using a calibrated pH meter. Results: The pH results from the sampled water sources were between 0.2 and 6.5, so overall the water appears mostly acidic, and it sits below the WHO suggested neutral span of 6.5–8.5 which is often used for safe drinking water. Conclusions: In the Dormaa Central Municipality, drinking water shows clearly acidic traits, and that brings serious public health worries. Long term drinking of this water could mean residents are at risk of heavy metal poisoning, and symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, immune suppression, organ damage, plus dental enamel erosion. Because of that, immediate water quality actions, along with pH surveillance programmes are really needed.