41 research outputs found
Performance evaluation of the UASB sewage treatment plant at James Town (Mudor), Accra
The UASB Sewage Treatment Plant at James Town, Accra, is used for domestic sewage treatment to remove
organic material from the wastewater. To achieve higher removal efficiencies, Trickling Filters, Settling
Tanks and other treatment units were used as post treatment. This study analysed the physical, chemical
and biological parameters of the influent (raw sewage) as well as the effluent from the plant. The result
indicated that the total removal efficiencies were 94.4%, 98.1%, 68.8%, 17.4%, 78.3% and 99.97% for
COD, BOD, TS, TKN, PO4-P and Faecal coliform respectively. The overall performance of the plant was
generally satisfactory. The study further revealed that Turbidity, Ammonia-nitrogen and Nitrate-nitrogen
of the effluents exceeded the EPA guidelines however; the total nitrogen and phosphate-phosphorus of the
final effluent could be discharged into the Korle-Lagoon without causing eutrophication or health risk. On
the other hand, the current management practices may cause the plant to work inefficiently
Urban Agriculture Practices and Health Problems among Farmers Operating on a University Campus in Kumasi, Ghana
Urban agriculture, a world-wide practice, faces both environmental and health challenges. Farmers are susceptible to occupational and other water-related health risks. The research identified health problems related to urban agricultural farming through farmersâ social characteristics and agricultural practices. Thorough interviews, using structured questionnaires, were carried out. Sixty three farmers responded to questions ranging from agricultural practices to health problems encountered. The findings showed that farmers apply both organic and inorganic fertilisers while 97% used pesticides of varying active ingredients at different application rates. Only 10% used personal protective clothing during the application of pesticides. Overhead irrigation was carried out using a watering can. Eighty four percent and 13% of the respondents utilised water from shallow wells and shallow wells mixed with contaminated stream, respectively. Besides schistosomiasis and cholera, other bacterial diseases, nematode infections, malaria, headaches, dermatological, visual, cardiac, and respiratory problems were common health complaints. Headache complaints were the most common (75%).Lâagriculture urbaine, une pratique qui a cours dans le monde entier, est confrontĂ©e Ă des dĂ©fis dâordre environnemental et sanitaire. Les agriculteurs sont exposĂ©s Ă divers risques professionnels, et notamment Ă ceux que l'eau peut poser pour leur santĂ©. Cette Ă©tude a identifiĂ© les problĂšmes de santĂ© liĂ©s Ă lâagriculture urbaine en fonction des caractĂ©ristiques sociales et des pratiques des agriculteurs. Des entretiens approfondis ont Ă©tĂ© conduits en suivant des questionnaires structurĂ©s. Soixante-trois fermiers ont rĂ©pondu aux questions, qui abordaient leurs pratiques agricoles ainsi que leurs problĂšmes de santĂ©. Les rĂ©sultats montrent que les fermiers emploient aussi bien des engrais organiques que non organiques, et que 97 % utilisent des pesticides basĂ©s sur diffĂ©rents composants actifs, Ă diffĂ©rents taux dâapplication. Seulement 10 % des agriculteurs utilisent des vĂȘtements de protection lors de lâapplication des pesticides. Lâarrosage par aspersion est rĂ©alisĂ© Ă lâaide dâarrosoirs. 84 % des personnes interrogĂ©es utilisent de lâeau provenant de puits de surface, et 13 % utilisent de lâeau provenant de puits de surface mĂ©langĂ©e Ă lâeau dâune source polluĂ©e. Outre la schistosomiase et le cholĂ©ra, dâautres maladies bactĂ©riennes, les infestations de nĂ©matodes, la malaria, les maux de tĂȘte et les problĂšmes de vue, dermatologiques, cardiaques et respiratoires font partie des problĂšmes de santĂ© rencontrĂ©s couramment. Les maux de tĂȘte sont le problĂšme le plus rĂ©pandu (75 %).La agricultura urbana, una prĂĄctica mundial, enfrenta problemas medioambientales y de salud. Los agropecuarios son sensibles a los riesgos laborales y aquellos relacionados con el clima. La investigaciĂłn identificĂł problemas de salud vinculados con la agricultura urbana a travĂ©s de las caracterĂsticas sociales y las prĂĄcticas agrĂcolas de los productores. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad, utilizando cuestionarios estructurados. Sesenta y tres productores contestaron a preguntas sobre temas que iban de las prĂĄcticas agrĂcolas a los problemas de salud sufridos. Los resultados muestran que los productores aplican pesticidas tanto orgĂĄnicos como inorgĂĄnicos, mientras que 97 % utilizan pesticidas con variados ingredientes activos y con distintas frecuencias de aplicaciĂłn. SĂłlo el 10 % utilizĂł ropa de protecciĂłn durante la aplicaciĂłn de pesticidas. Se realizĂł riego por aspersiĂłn utilizando una regadera. Ochenta y cuatro por ciento y 13 % de los interrogados utilizaron agua de pozos poco profundos y de pozos poco profundos mezclados con arroyos contaminados, respectivamente. AdemĂĄs de esquistosomiasis y cĂłlera, otras enfermedades bacterianas, infecciones de nematodos, malaria, cefaleas, y problemas dermatolĂłgicos, visuales, cardĂacos y respiratorios fueron inconvenientes de salud comunes. El problema mĂĄs comĂșn fueron las cefaleas (75 %)
Management of sewerage system: case study in Tema
Many sanitation systems in most developing countries have deteriorated resulting in a lower level of service
and consequent deterioration of environmental conditions. The sewerage system in the Tema Municipality is
not different from other developing countries; three pumping stations and the treatment plant have been shut
down hence raw sewage flows through a by-pass into the sea without treatment, creating an environmental
hazard. This study examined the problems associated with the management of the sewerage system in Tema
Municipality through field visits, administering questionnaires and interviews with key stakeholders. The
study revealed that Tema Metropolitan Assembly (T.M.A) lacks key personnel; equipment, logistics and
funds to manage the system. 33% of the residents using the sewer lines are not billed; the tariffs paid by
the industries are low. The revenue does not march Operation and Maintenance cost and current electrical
energy cost make up 64% of the Operation and Maintenance cost
Self supply schemes for community water supply in Ghana
Jachie and Esereso are communities in the Bosomtwi-Atwima Kwanwoma District in Ashanti Region located
on the outskirts of Kumasi with poor access to improved water supply services. The acute water supply
situation in the communities has led many individuals described in this study as âSelf Suppliersâ to provide
water to serve their families and other members of the community for free or for a fee. This study examined
who the Self Suppliers are, how they operate, the quality of water supplied, their market share and coverage
through a survey carried out with these service providers and consumers in both communities. The Self
Suppliers are the main water service providers in the two communities. However, water quality from these
providers did not meet the Ghana Standards Boardâs required quality levels. This paper highlights the role
of these self-supply schemes in community water supply delivery in Ghana
Shifting from public shared toilets to home toilets in urban settlements: implications of household demand in Kumasi, Ghana
This study was conducted to assess the householdsâ attributes towards the use of public toilet, demand for
improved household toilet and the implications of shifting from public shared toilet to improved
household or home toilet. A sample of 120 houses was randomly selected from two groups â those
without improved household toilets and those with improved household toilets built with subsidy. The
results showed that most of the households using public toilet (86%) were not satisfied with the
cleanliness and odour, but were not aware of the home toilet promotion. High and middle income
households (82%) received subsidy of 50% of the cost of household toilet. Most of the low income
households residing in multifamilies
houses did not have improved household toilet due to limited space
for facility, multilandlords
from extended families, and lack of motivation resulting from the presence of
public shared toilets. There are difficulties in shifting from public shared toilets to improved household
toilets
Bioconversion of municipal organic solid waste in to compost using Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens)
Purpose The study assessed the quality of compost produced by the Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) in terms of the compost nutrient level, microbial activities, and the bioaccumulation of possible heavy metals in the organic solid waste.Method The study used the pre-experimental study design, one-group pretest-posttest to obtain the data. Five experimental units were used for the study, which include the daily feeding rate for the five different groups of larvae. The experiments were replicated three times. The nutrient level, heavy metal content and presence of microbes were analyzed before and after the decomposition process.Results The study discovered that the Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK)content   increased in the compost produced. Cross-contamination of Total Coliform from feed to the prepupae were significant while regrowth of Total Coliform in compost were insignificant. After the composting process most heavy metals like Fe had insignificantly increased in the compost .Conclusion It can be concluded that larval composting enhance the regrowth of pathogens since the process is entirely mesophilic. Bioaccumulation of most heavy metals was minimum, increasing the level of these heavy metals in the compost. The nutrients were extremely high in the compost to the extent that can cause phyto-toxicity. Post-treatment of the compost is needed to make BSFL compost viable for the market
Wastewater Management in Third World Cities: Case Study of Cotonou, Benin
Poor wastewater management coupled with lack of sanitation facilities has aggravated the sanitation challenges in developing countries. This study was aimed at providing information on the current state of sanitation in Cotonou City through surveys. The most common sanitation facilities in the city were septic tanks, latrines and soakaway pits. Mechanical desulging was mainly used (94%) for desludging latrines and septic tanks with a frequency of less than once a year for 73% of the houses; manual desludging was most common for soakaway pits. 84% of sullage generated is disposed without treatment. The only existing stabilization pond plant, managed by a private company SIBEAU, is overloaded; the effluent is poor (up to 2250mg/l BOD5) and does not meet any quality standards. 96% of survey respondents recognise that the sanitation situation in the city is not good; it has to be improved by providing an appropriate and sustainable sanitation management system
Livestock ownership is associated with higher odds of anaemia among preschoolâaged children, but not women of reproductive age in Ghana
Livestock ownership may influence anaemia through complex and possibly contradictory mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to determine the association of household livestock ownership with anaemia among women aged 15â49Â years and children aged 6â59Â months in Ghana and to examine the contribution of animal source foods (ASFs) to consumption patterns as a potential mechanism mediating this association. We analysed data on 4,441 women and 2,735 children from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and 16,772 households from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 6. Haemoglobin measurements were used to define anaemia (nonâpregnant women: <120Â g/L; children: <110Â g/L). Childâ and householdâlevel ASF consumption data were collected from 24âhour food group intake and food consumption and expenditure surveys, respectively. In multiple logistic regression models, household livestock ownership was associated with anaemia among children (OR, 95% CI: 1.5 [1.1, 2.0]), but not women (1.0 [0.83, 1.2]). Household ownership of chickens was associated with higher odds of anaemia among children (1.6 [1.2, 2.2]), but ownership of other animal species was not associated with anaemia among women or children. In path analyses, we observed no evidence of mediation of the association of household livestock ownership with child anaemia by ASF consumption. Ownership of livestock likely has limited importance for consumption of ASFs among young children in Ghana and may in fact place children at an increased risk of anaemia. Further research is needed to elucidate if and how pathogen exposure associated with livestock rearing may underlie this increased risk of anaemia.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144629/1/mcn12604_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144629/2/mcn12604.pd
Smallholder farmersâ perception of climatic and socio-economic factors influencing livelihoods in the transition zone of Ghana
Background:
The study analyzed smallholder farmersâ perception with regards to climatic and socio-economic changes influencing their agriculture livelihoods and coping strategies thereof in the transition zone of Ghana.
Methods:
We used semi-structured questionnaires for household survey involving 59 households and focus group discussions (n=60) for data collection in three communities.
Results:
Farming systems are influenced by high and extreme temperatures, delayed onsets of rain, short raining season as well as unpredictable raining seasons. Similarly, socioeconomic factors affecting the communities and their householdsâ livelihood included i) bad road network; ii) high prices of farm inputs; iii) prevalent crop pests and diseases and iv) absence of irrigation facilities. It was ascertained that though most farmers have not made conscious efforts to adapt strategies in their farming system to climate change and the social stressors, as expressed in âdoing nothing or bearing lossesâ and we are at the âmercyâ of the weather, there are hidden resilience mechanisms that can be harnessed to strengthen their adaptation capabilities. Women in the study area have adapted to the changes in the weather and safeguarded against post-harvest loss of cassava more effectively as compared to their male counterparts. Similarly, the prevailing group farming and maintenance structure (locally known as âNoboaâ) strengthen the shared responsibility and reciprocity among migrantâ farmers.
Conclusions:
Though these agrarian communities have some coping strategies to overcome some climatic and socioeconomic challenges, their general adaptive capacity in terms of physical, financial and human assets are limited. This, therefore, calls for the capacity building of both men and women on best farming practices, adaptation strategies and piloting of irrigation systems to enhance their major livelihood but these must be complemented with good road network for ease of access to the market centres