Small Scale Wastewater Treatment in Ghana (a Scenerio)

Greater Eastern Central Volta Western Ashanti Northern upper eastAccraFigure 2: Regional Distribution and Design of waste water systems in Ghana-Accessed from (aug.2006); http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/ghana (EPA-Ghana, 2001)Figure 1 show that there are about 23 different treatment plants in Accra alone.Figure 2 shows that more than half of the treatment plants in Accra are not functional.Kumasi, the second largest city also has about half of its treatment plants notfunctional. The major treatment methods as shown in Figure 1 are:● Stabilization Pond, located at Asafo (Kumasi), Tema community 3, Legon staffvillage, Achimota and Teshie Nungua, all in Accra.● Trickling filter found at Burma camp, Nsawam prison, both in Accra and KwameNkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.● Activated sludge found at La Palm, Labadi, Golden Tulip and 37 military hospitalall in Accra.The faecal treatment plants in Accra are not very good. The main plant is at Achimotawith the trucks dumping at a rate of approximately 250m 3 /day, follow by another oneat Teshie Nungua with a dumping rate of 80m 3 /day and Korley lagoon with 50m 3 /day(Sanitation and urban wastewater management-Ghana) weather the functioningplants meet EPA effluent standard is another question. These plants cannot meet theload from the population. The situation therefore call for a more friendly, less costive,less maintenance cost, environmentally friendly but acceptable treatment efficiency.4