Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, H: Environment & Earth Science, Volume 23 Issue 2

as soil-transmitted helminths (worms) [18]. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasites such as worms can transmit typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, infectious he- patitis and other forms of diseases to human. These pathogens enter water primarily through the faeces and urine of infected people and other animals. The [19] have observed that 91% of the world‘s population used drinking water from improved sources leaving 663million people lacking access to an improved source of water. Unimproved water sources threatens people's lives with cholera, hepatitis A, diarrhoea, dy- sentery, and other sanitation-related diseases, increas- ing the mortality rate of people particularly children. Households that have no toilet facilities in the Gambaga and Nalerigu townships defecate in the bushes or fields [20]. The beauty of Nalerigu is marred by the practice of open defecation leading to poor sanitation. For instance, the proportion of households in Gambaga and Nalerigu Townships that have no toilet facilities is 70.5 percent and resort to open defecation. As a result, runoff easily washes the excreta into available surface waters such as rivers or dams. Water sampling and monitoring are required on an ongoing basis to back up hydrogeologi- cal studies and to more accurately assess water quality and propose sustainable management strategies [21, 22, 23, 24]. This study, therefore assesses water quality of the Nalerigu dam with the objective of unearthing and contributing to evidences required for sound decision- making on managing surface water quality in Ghana. II. S tudy A rea and M ethodology The study was conducted in Nalerigu which is the capital of the East Mamprusi Municipality (Figure 1) and also, the capital of the the North-East Region of Ghana. It has geographical coordinates of 0°32’N and 0°22’W [25]. It is the seat of the Mamprusi paramountcy. The inhabitants of the town are mostly farmers and grow crops such as maize, millet, groundnuts, cotton, soya bean, etc. They also rear domestic animals including sheep, goats, cattle and poultry (guinea fowls, ducks, turkeys and fowls) Nalerigu experiences a single maxima rainfall regime from April to October. The annual average tem- perature of the District is 27.4 ℃ and varies from about 35 ℃ in March to about 27 ℃ in August. The high tempera- ture is ideal for drying and preservation of groundnuts and other cereals produced in large quantities in the District. The climate is good for the rearing of animals like cattle, donkeys, small ruminants and poultry[25]. According to the provisional figures for 2010 Population and Housing Census, the East Mamprusi Municipality has a population of 188,006. The distribu- tion shows that females account for 96,887 with 91,119 males, representing 51.5% and 48.5% respectively. The average population density is 105.9 persons per km². There are 142 communities. Nalerigu has a population of about 658,903persons [26]. Agriculture and its related activities is the main economic activity of Nalerigu in the East Mamprusi Mu- nicipality. Generally, agricultural production activities in the town are labour intensive carried out by both males and females. According to the [25] agricultural popula- tion by gender is 2:1 (male: female). Most often farmers. basically engaged in planting and harvesting as well as post-harvest activities. Most crop farmers (82%) are small-scale holder while only 3% of farmers have large scale holdings. Agriculture employs the largest propor- tion of the population aged 15 years and above as their main job [25]. a) Sampling Site This research was conducted within the Naleri- gu dam in the East Mamprusi District of Ghana. Three points of the dam named point A (upstream close to the © 2023 Global Journals 1 Year 2023 78 Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXIII Issue ersion I VII ( H ) Assessment of Water Quality of the Nalerigu Dam in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region of Ghana