Performance of a drinking water treatment system for a small community in rural Ghana, West Africa
Abstract
In many African countries, the shortage of water resources is a common phenomenon. Providing safe and adequate water is an issue that must be considered by community leaders and municipal authorities. The present project investigated the performance of a small drinking water treatment system in a small community at Enyan Abaasa, Central Region, Ghana, through sampling and laboratory testing. The treatment system, which is fed by a deep borehole, consists sequentially of polypropylene (PP) yarn pre-filter, sand filter, layered activated carbon-softener resin filter, PP yarn micron filter, reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, PP yarn final filter and two ultraviolet (UV) disinfection units. The research also explored possible additional water sources for the growing community where the drinking water production plant is located. Monitoring of the water quality showed that the softener resin, micron filter, and UV disinfection units occasionally malfunctioned and resulted in microbial contamination of the water and should be replaced or repaired. In order to meet the Ghana Standards Authority guidelines, the pH also needs to be adjusted by using a neutralization filter. Rainwater and wastewater recycled from the drinking water treatment system could be source water for the treatment plant. The thesis proposes improvements and suggestions for adequate water supply for this particular community and its residents.