Impact of the ban on illegal mining activities on raw water quality: A case-study of Konongo Water Treatment Plant, Ashanti Region of Ghana

The Government of Ghana prohibited Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) operations from 2017 to 2018 as part its strategy address the socio-environmental issues caused by illegal mining activities, also referred “galamsey” operations. This study assessed trend in water quality raw abstracted at Konongo Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for treatment before after implementing ban on main source WTP is Anuru River. Secondary data physicochemical 2006 2019 was sourced Ashanti Regional Quality Assurance Unit Company Limited (GWCL). Mann-Kendall seasonality test used determine trends using XLSTAT statistical tool. results showed a statistically significant (5% level significance) upward colour, turbidity, temperature, total iron, sulphate activities. There evidence downward hardness, calcium alkalinity, chloride