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<p>The rising global need for freshwater, exacerbated by growing populations, urbanisation, and climate change, has prompted the investigation of alternate water sources for agriculture, especially in water-scarce&#xa0;locations. This study evaluates the suitability of wastewater for irrigation in the Central Region of Ghana, concentrating on five districts: Elmina, Akotokyir, Aburadunkwa, Fante Nyankomase, and Mankessim during&#xa0;wet and dry seasons. The study assesses critical physicochemical parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), nitrate (NO₃⁻), sodium (Na), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in tandem with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) standards to ascertain irrigation viability and recognise potential hazards. Microbial and heavy metal parameters were excluded due to resource constraints and the study’s focus on salinity, sodicity, and nutrient-related risks, which pose immediate agricultural concerns in the target region. Findings indicate substantial seasonal fluctuations in wastewater quality. Samples from the wet season demonstrated reduced salinity (EC: 0.10–0.67 dS/m; TDS: 40–100&#xa0;mg/L) and sodicity (SAR: 1.37–11.15) as a result of dilution from precipitation, whereas samples from the dry season displayed marginally increased values (EC: 0.11–0.15 dS/m; SAR: 3.37–5.64) due to evaporation. Notwithstanding these variations, all metrics remained within the FAO's "none to moderate" impact thresholds, with the exception of calcium (surpassing 2.0&#xa0;mg/L) and sodium (exceeding 9&#xa0;mg/L in D5), which provide hazards of soil degradation and sodicity. The pH levels were continuously marginally acidic (5.05–6.62), which may impact soil health and nutrient availability over time. Nutrient concentrations, particularly nitrates (0.18–2.10&#xa0;mg/L), were minimal, reducing the potential for groundwater contamination but highlighting the necessity for more fertilisation. Using hydrogeochemical tools including the USSL, Piper, and Gibbs diagrams to assess the suitability of wastewater for irrigation, results showed that most wastewater samples exhibited low sodium and salinity hazards, with dominant Ca–Mg–Cl–SO₄ and Ca–Na–HCO₃–SO₄–Cl water types shaped primarily by atmospheric precipitation processes reflecting the significant influence of rainfall on drainage water chemistry in the study area. The research underscores the significance of adaptive management solutions to alleviate long-term hazards. Policy recommendations encompass decentralised wastewater treatment, stringent water quality enforcement, agricultural education initiatives, and public–private partnerships to improve infrastructure. Aligning with the&#xa0;National Water Policy in Ghana, these strategies can facilitate sustainable wastewater reuse, hence assuring food security and environmental health in peri-urban agricultural systems. This study enhances the global discourse on sustainable water reuse, providing empirical insights for policymakers, agronomists, and water resource managers in analogous socio-environmental settings. The results highlight the feasibility of wastewater irrigation in resource-constrained environments, while stressing the necessity for tailored management to reconcile agricultural output with ecological sustainability.</p>

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Assessment of wastewater quality for irrigation use in the Central Region of Ghana

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月18日

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  • Ransford Opoku Darko,
  • Paul Peprah Nsonowah,
  • Joshua Danso Owusu-Sekyere,
  • Mark Nyameche

摘要

The rising global need for freshwater, exacerbated by growing populations, urbanisation, and climate change, has prompted the investigation of alternate water sources for agriculture, especially in water-scarce locations. This study evaluates the suitability of wastewater for irrigation in the Central Region of Ghana, concentrating on five districts: Elmina, Akotokyir, Aburadunkwa, Fante Nyankomase, and Mankessim during wet and dry seasons. The study assesses critical physicochemical parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), nitrate (NO₃⁻), sodium (Na), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in tandem with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) standards to ascertain irrigation viability and recognise potential hazards. Microbial and heavy metal parameters were excluded due to resource constraints and the study’s focus on salinity, sodicity, and nutrient-related risks, which pose immediate agricultural concerns in the target region. Findings indicate substantial seasonal fluctuations in wastewater quality. Samples from the wet season demonstrated reduced salinity (EC: 0.10–0.67 dS/m; TDS: 40–100 mg/L) and sodicity (SAR: 1.37–11.15) as a result of dilution from precipitation, whereas samples from the dry season displayed marginally increased values (EC: 0.11–0.15 dS/m; SAR: 3.37–5.64) due to evaporation. Notwithstanding these variations, all metrics remained within the FAO's "none to moderate" impact thresholds, with the exception of calcium (surpassing 2.0 mg/L) and sodium (exceeding 9 mg/L in D5), which provide hazards of soil degradation and sodicity. The pH levels were continuously marginally acidic (5.05–6.62), which may impact soil health and nutrient availability over time. Nutrient concentrations, particularly nitrates (0.18–2.10 mg/L), were minimal, reducing the potential for groundwater contamination but highlighting the necessity for more fertilisation. Using hydrogeochemical tools including the USSL, Piper, and Gibbs diagrams to assess the suitability of wastewater for irrigation, results showed that most wastewater samples exhibited low sodium and salinity hazards, with dominant Ca–Mg–Cl–SO₄ and Ca–Na–HCO₃–SO₄–Cl water types shaped primarily by atmospheric precipitation processes reflecting the significant influence of rainfall on drainage water chemistry in the study area. The research underscores the significance of adaptive management solutions to alleviate long-term hazards. Policy recommendations encompass decentralised wastewater treatment, stringent water quality enforcement, agricultural education initiatives, and public–private partnerships to improve infrastructure. Aligning with the National Water Policy in Ghana, these strategies can facilitate sustainable wastewater reuse, hence assuring food security and environmental health in peri-urban agricultural systems. This study enhances the global discourse on sustainable water reuse, providing empirical insights for policymakers, agronomists, and water resource managers in analogous socio-environmental settings. The results highlight the feasibility of wastewater irrigation in resource-constrained environments, while stressing the necessity for tailored management to reconcile agricultural output with ecological sustainability.