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The safety of drinking water is becoming more crucial as the world's population is increasing and anthropogenic activities which pollute water resources are intensifying. This study was carried out between June and August of 2022 to determine the physicochemical and microbial parameters of the Volta Lake at Asutsuare due to sand mining activities and to evaluate how well coconut husk biochar could remove these contaminants. Water samples were taken from one meter below the surface at the upstream, midstream (sand mining site) and downstream once a week for three months. Water samples from the midstream were passed through a coconut husk biochar column to determine its ability to remove pollutants in the water samples. Compared to the upstream, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in colour, turbidity, iron, manganese, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total coliform and total suspended solids from the water sampled from the midstream and downstream sites. Moreover, these values also exceeded the WHO guidelines. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the midstream, the upstream and downstream sampling sites for the following parameters: zinc, lead, copper, conductivity, TDS, temperature, faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and pH. Biochar from coconut husk was used once and seems to be a highly effective sorbent for removing pollutants from water samples (>70 % removal efficiency).

Leachate from sanitary landfill and dumpsites have potential to cause soil and groundwater contamination, and disrupt ecosystems. However, there is little information about dumpsite leachates and geotechnical properties and their impacts on surface and groundwater in Bono region, Ghana. This study assessed dumpsites leachate, geotechnical properties of the soil, and their impacts on surface and groundwater quality in Sunyani. Six triplicate leachates, eleven triplicate groundwater and three triplicate surface water samples were taken at (up-stream, mid-stream and down-stream) urban dumpsite, and eight triplicate groundwater samples taken around peri-urban dumpsite. Water samples were stored (100). WQI ranged from 6.51 to 289, indicating excellent to heavily polluted groundwater sources. Surface water was heavily polluted with WQI between 0.84 and 776.75, with majority having WQI>100. The heavily polluted samples were located 75-155 m away from urban dumpsite. Moderate significant negative association was established between (WQI-P and WQI-H) and distance with multiple R2=0.4709, p=0.0191 and R2= 0.4482, p=0.02425 respectively. Statistically, strong significant negative association between (WQI-P & WQI-H) and Ip (p < 0.05). This implies that when plasticity index and distance from groundwater sources to dumpsite increased, WQI values decreased, and groundwater quality improved.

The ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine offers a promising route to safely managed sanitation to many households in developing countries. However, some technical guidelines must be followed in order to realise the technology's advantage of odour and fly nuisance control. This study sought to audit private VIP latrines in selected regions of Ghana to assess their compliance to conventional technical guidelines and to understand the major factors that influence the latrine designs. An inspection checklist was developed to assess 296 private VIP latrines in the Central, Ashanti and Northern Regions of Ghana while semi-structured interviews were conducted among the latrine owners to enquire the factors that influenced the designs of their latrines. The results show that provision of a window in the superstructure (86 %), and the avoidance of an insect screen in the window(s) (77 %) were the most complied guidelines. The use of 150 mm diameter vent pipe was the least satisfied guideline (5 %). On the average, a latrine satisfied about half (3.6) of the technical guidelines that were assessed. The decision or advice of local artisans is the most influential factor in the design of the latrines. Cost was the least mentioned factor cited by the latrine owners. There is the need to establish information desks at the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to guide prospective owners on the proper design and construction of the VIP latrine. In addition, toilet construction should be incorporated in the curriculum for the basic training of building and construction students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Ghana. Further research is required to ascertain the basis of the decisions of local artisans and the potential impact of the use of accessories that are ‘borrowed’ from the WC toilet on odour and fly control in the latrine.

In developing countries like Ghana, the use of open dumpsites and landfills without proper waste management technique has resulted in environmental pollution with long-term adverse effects on soil, groundwater, human health and environmental sustainability. This study assessed the contaminants in fine particles of dumpsite waste and soil around urban and peri‑urban dumpsites at different depths of excavation and different age of deposited waste. Specifically, the study: (i) assessed physiochemical properties of fine particles of dumpsite waste and the surrounding soil, (ii) assessed heavy metals distribution from waste fine particles and surrounding soil at different depths and different ages of deposition, (iii) also determined soil quality indices (pollution index, geo-accumulation, and the potential ecological risk), and the hazards associated with the dumpsites on the residents living near the dumpsites. About 50 kg of waste was taken from surface, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m depths. The samples were dried, segregated and sieved to obtain fine particles. Again, 1 kg soil was excavated form 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m depths at different age zones around each dumpsite. The fine particles and soil were analysed for physiochemical parameters using standard methods, and heavy metals using microwave plasma spectroscopy. The results showed that, the concentrations (electrical conductivity, potassium, cadmium, iron, copper and zinc) of waste fine particles and soil samples observed statistically significant different between them (p 6). High potential ecological risk of Hg (RI = 514.29), and (RI = 571.43) was observed at (SMZC1) and (NZA1) respectively; and high potential ecological risk of Cd (1000 ≤ RI ≤ 320), at (SMZA1-SMCA4. The study shows that both dumpsites have caused environmental hazards and this can cause surface and groundwater pollution and adverse effect on public health. But the study could not assess the impacts of dumpsite on leachate and water quality. The findings can be used as benchmark for developing appropriate technology for dumpsite mining, reclamation or decommission project; and exploit valorization potentials of the fine particles of the waste as composite and construction materials.

Open dumping of municipal solid waste is a common practice in developing countries including Ghana and it creates major problems in many municipalities and towns in the countries, and therefore, the dumpsites need to be reclaimed or decommissioned after years of dumping. However, it becomes challenging to infer from the results of studies from other part of the world for dumpsites in Ghana since they may have different waste characteristics. Therefore, this study sought to characterize the dumpsite waste with different age groups from urban city and small town to ascertain the impacts of aging of deposited waste on waste fractions, it also assessed the waste components at different depths within the same and different age groups in both small-town and urban dumpsites; for waste deposited more than 5 years (Zone A), 2–4 years (Zone B), and less than 6 months (Zone C) in Bono region, Ghana. Waste (100 kg) was taken at surface, 0.5 m, 1.0 m and 1.5 m and reduced to 50 kg using coning and quartering method; dried, segregated and analyzed. Plastics waste (24.5–28.1%) increased with age at urban, and increased (5.4–8.5%) with depth at small town dumpsite. Plastic waste was second to Decomposed organic matter (DOM) at both dumpsites. The metal (

Approximately 15% of wastes generated in hospitals is hazardous. Improper handling of this waste renders the remaining fraction infectious which is perilous to the health of hospital workers, patients, visitors and even communities. Sufficient data on medical waste management practices particularly in low-income countries such as Ghana is required for effective monitoring and policy making. This study sought to assess the waste generation rates, waste management practices, frequency of sharp injuries and the knowledge of health-care workers on waste management guidelines in Ho Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Data was collected through observations and questionnaire administration from 100 health-care workers. The results revealed that the total amount of wastes generated was 1.70kg/patient/day (490.62 kg/day) comprising of 57.48%, 33.98% and 8.54% of general, infectious and hazardous wastes respectively. Further investigations showed that 52% of the health-care workers knew about the existence of a hospital waste management policy and 89% attested that they had received training on medical waste management. The existing waste management committee was however, non-functional. Waste segregation at source and the use of color-coded waste receptacles were not strictly followed. Contaminated general wastes were landfilled whiles hazardous wastes were either incinerated or buried. Only 11% of the waste handlers were always completely dressed in personal protective equipment and about 77% of the waste handlers always sustained sharp injuries. Incentivizing the waste management team to ensure strict adherence to a waste management plan would improve waste management at the hospital.

Domestic greywater management is a challenge and remains the most neglected sanitation component in Ghana. Meanwhile, data on greywater (quantity and quality) is very limited. This paper aimed to generate relevant information on greywater using a residential neighbourhood within a university campus in Kumasi city. Data was generated from five households of 24 inhabitants using interviews, greywater quantification by volumetric flow measurement, and laboratory analyses. Greywater flows collected from bathrooms, kitchen, laundry and sink sources were between 250 and 260 l/h/d (52 – 54 l/c/d). Major contaminants like turbidity (270 NTU), TSS (180 – 190 mg/L), BOD5 (320 – 350 mg/L), COD (690 – 740 mg/L), TP (3 mg/L), NH3N/NH4+ (6 – 12 mg/L), and Hg & Pb (0.3 – 0.8 mg/L) failed the regulatory discharge limits. Anionic surfactants (6 – 7 mg-LAS/L), SO42− (13 – 15 mg/L), sodium absorption ratio (SAR, 0.6 (meq/l)½) and biodegradability ratio (BOD5/COD, 0.5) were also determined. Specific pollutant loads were comparable to available literature, e.g. BOD5 & COD were about 18 g/c/d and 38 g/c/d respectively. The untreated greywater flows are low, loaded with pollutants and considered unsafe for open discharge into the environment without treatment.