Felix K. Abagale

Show more
West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Show less

Abstract: The use of wastewater as alternative source of water for vegetable crop irrigation has become an eminent component of urban agriculture due to current global water crises in most developing countries, and admits the increasing effects of global climate change. The practise is however noted to be associated with significant health and environment risk due to excessive pollutant load. The study assessed the level of seasonal variation and removal of organic pollutants in wastewater using gravel filters combined with stabilisation ponds at Zagyuri in the Tamale Metropolis. The yard scale experiment consisted of cylindrical containers of different length filled with six different sizes of filter media and connected to stabilisation ponds where wastewater is allowed to pass through for filtration and stabilisation. The results indicated that for both seasons, the average concentration of BOD released into the stream at Zagyuri was 92.98 mg/l and 103.54 mg/l for the dry and wet season respectively whilst the COD was averaged 132.78 mg/l and 143.75 mg/l for the dry and wet seasons respectively. The results of the simple linear regression revealed a strong positive linear relationship between BOD and COD with coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.873 which was statistically highly significantly at Pr value of <0.0001. The results for ANOVA for the treatment factor were statistically highly significant at Pr values of 0.0011 and <0.0001 respectively for BOD₅ and COD. The average concentration of BOD was higher than the Ghana EPA recommended levels while that of COD was lower and thus within safety range for discharge into the environment.

Keywords: Organic Pollutant, BOD5, COD, Wastewater, Treatment

Cite this paper: Abagale, F. (2021) Seasonal Variation and Removal of Organic Pollutants in Wastewater Using Low-Cost Treatment Technologies in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 13, 271-282. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2021.134016.

References

[1]   McDonald, R.I., Green, P., Balk, D., Fekete, B.M., Revenga, C., Todd, M. and Montgomery, M. (2011) Urban Growth, Climate Change and Freshwater Availability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108, 6312-6317.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1011615108

[2]   Güller, S., Silahtaroglu, G. and Akpolat, O. (2019) Analysis Wastewater Characteristics via Data Mining: A Mugla Province Case and External Validation. Communications in Statistics: Case Studies, Data Analysis and Applications, 5, 200-213.
https://doi.org/10.1080/23737484.2019.1604192

[3]   Drechsel, P., Scott, C.A., Raschid-Sally, L., Redwood, M. and Bahri, A. (2010) Wastewater Irrigation and Health: Assessing and Mitigating Risk in Low-Income Countries. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo; Earthscan, London; International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, 404 p.

[4]   Kulabako, N.R., Ssonko, N.K.M. and Kinobe, J. (2011) Greywater Characteristics and Reuse in Tower Gardens in Peri-Urban Areas—Experiences of Kawaala, Kampala, Uganda. The Open Environmental Engineering Journal, 4, 147-154.
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874829501104010147

[5]   Ali, I., Asim, M. and Khan, T.A. (2012) Low-Cost Adsorbents for the Removal of Organic Pollutants from Wastewater. Journal of Environmental Management, 113, 170-183.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.08.028

[6]   Sasse, L. (1998) Decentralised Wastewater Treatment in Developing Countries. A Publication of BORDA.

[7]   Strauss, M., Larmie, S.A. and Heinss, U. (1997) Treatment of Sludges from On-Site Sanitation: Low-Cost Options. Water Science and Technology, 35, 129-136.
https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1997.0251

[8]   Sall, O. and Takakashi, Y. (2006) Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Stored Grey Water from Unsewered Sun-Urban Dakar in Senegal. Urban Water Journal, 3, 153-164.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15730620600961387

[9]   Tchobanoglous, G. and Burton, F.L. (1995) Wastewater Engineering Treatment, Disposal and Reuse. 3rd Edition, Metcalf and Eddy Inc., New York.

[10]   Lee, J., Lee, S., Yu, S. and Rhew, D. (2016) Relationships between Water Quality Parameters in Rivers and Lakes: BOD5, COD, NBOPs, and TOC. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 188, 252.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5251-1

[11]   Rangwala, S.C., Rangwala, K.S. and Rangwala, P.S. (2007) Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering. Charotar Publishing House, Anand, 200-201.

[12]   Mara, D. (2004) Domestic Wastewater Treatment in Developing Countries. Earthscan, London.

[13]   Yvonne, L. (2012) Design of Sewage Treatment System for Gulu University. A Project Report, Gulu University, Gulu.

[14]   Nelson, K.L., Cisneros, B.J., Tchobanoglous, G. and Darby, J.L. (2004) Sludge Accumulation, Characteristics and Pathogen Inactivation in Four Primary Waste Stabilization Ponds in Central Mexico. Water Research, 38, 111-127.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2003.09.013

[15]   Ghana Statistical Service (2013) 2010 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report.

[16]   Obuobie, E., Keraita, B., Danso, G., Amoah, P., Cofie, O.O., Raschid-Sally, L. and Drechsel, P. (2006) Irrigated Urban Vegetable Production in Ghana: Characteristics, Benefits and Risks. IWMI-RUAF-CPWF, IWMI, Accra, 150 p.

[17]   Abagale, F.K., Kyei-Baffour, N., Ofori, E. and Mensah, E. (2013) Types and Seasonal Diversity of Helminth Eggs in Wastewater Used for Peri-Urban Vegetable Crop Production in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. International Journal of Current Research, 5, 3354-3359.

[18]   APHA (2005) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 21st Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington DC.

[19]   Owusu-Ansah, E.D.G.J., Sampson, A., Amponsah, S.K., Abaidoo, R.C. and Hald, T. (2015) Performance, Compliance and Reliability of Waste Stabilization Pond: Effluent Discharge Quality and Environmental Protection Agency Standards in Ghana.

[20]   Attiogbe, F.K., Glover-Amengor, M. and Nyadziehe, K.T. (2007) Correlating Biochemical and Chemical Oxygen Demand of Effluents—A Case Study of Selected Industries in Kumasi, Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 11, 155-164.
https://doi.org/10.4314/wajae.v11i1.45722

[21]   Andrio, D., Asmura, J., Yenie, E. and Putri, K. (2019) Enhancing BOD5/COD Ratio Co-Substrate Tofu Wastewater and Cow Dung during Ozone Pre-Treatment. MATEC Web of Conferences, 276, Article No. 06027.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201927606027