Test drinking water for radiological safety – Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has urged owners of boreholes and producers of sachet and bottled water to test for radiological water quality.

The Commission said this would ensure the safety of drinking water, thereby preventing the long-term incidence of cancers in people who ingest contaminated water.

This call was made by Research Scientists of GAEC, Dr. David Kpeglo, and Dr. Gibrilla Abass, during a studio discussion with an Accra-based TV station to commemorate World Water Day on the global theme: "Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible".

Speaking on protecting groundwater, making it safe and sufficient with conventional and nuclear techniques, Dr. Abass explained that the groundwater is held in rocks beneath the earth's surface, containing naturally occurring radioactive materials that can easily find their way into the water.

"That is why apart from the normal test for the physical and chemical parameters of the water, we encourage people to also test for radiological parameters," he added.

He further indicated that although the groundwater is generally safe, human activities on the earth's surface have the potential to interfere with its safety and increase the level of contaminants that are not safe for human consumption.

On his part, Dr. Kpeglo counselled that "it is advisable that after drilling a borehole, individuals must take the necessary steps to ensure that the water quality is tested before drinking it."

He stated that the water quality analysis must include radiological, physical, chemical, and bacteriological tests. "These tests are mandatory for all sachet and bottled water producers," Dr. Kpeglo emphasized.

"The specific requirements under the radiological water quality test are Gross Alpha and Gross Beta with the screening values of 0.1Bq/L and 1.0Bq/L, respectively. This is well enshrined in the regulations of Ghana Standards Authority and the World Health Organization (WHO)," he said.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Abass admonished the public to always seek the services of an expert before drilling a borehole. "Because selecting the right site is very important and a prerequisite at the initial stage to determine water quality and quantity.


Dr. Gibrilla Abass, Senior Research Scientist

"The professional will give you an idea of the water quality and quantity so that some mitigation measures can be put in place, when necessary. For instance, it is a requirement that a borehole must be sited away from a manhole with a permissible minimum distance of 50 meters," he said. "It is even illegal to drill a borehole without a permit," he averred.

Dr. Abass also said it is advisable to deal with a licensed borehole driller as they assist the Water Resource Commission (WRC) with data on the boreholes in the effective management of groundwater resources in the country.