The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has cautioned residents in communities affected by illegal mining (galamsey) against drinking or using water from polluted rivers and streams, warning that boiling does not make such water safe for consumption.
The Authority explained that water contaminated by illegal mining could contain hazardous substances such as mercury, cyanide and arsenic, which are not removed through boiling.
“The notion that boiled galamsey-contaminated water is safe for drinking and other domestic activities is false. While boiling kills bacteria, it does not remove harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide,” the EPA said.
An official at the EPA’s Twifo Praso office, David Agyekum Baidoo, said residents in several villages and hamlets continued to rely on polluted water bodies due to limited access to pipe-borne water.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, he warned that using contaminated water for drinking, bathing, farming and livestock could expose residents to serious health risks.
He said prolonged exposure to chemicals associated with illegal mining could lead to kidney damage, neurological disorders and birth defects.
Mr. Baidoo urged residents in affected communities to seek treated water and other safe alternatives instead of assuming that boiling polluted river water would make it suitable for domestic use.
He also encouraged residents to report illegal mining activities to the security agencies, saying timely information could help prevent further pollution and protect water bodies used for drinking, farming and fishing.
By Vera Owusu Sarpong