Reuse of waste water for urban agriculture

Ghana

Utility – industry symbiosis
The Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL) signed a public-private partnership management contract with the Ministry of Local Government to operate the Mudor Treatment Plant. The plant treats wastewater from Accra, the capital of Ghana, and has a capacity of 18 000 m3/day. The case will facilitate utilisation of treated wastewater for urban agriculture through the Farmers Organization Network of Ghana, as the industry representative, by means of value chain development. Furthermore, since biochar is a resource produced from treated sludge, the action will also promote the adoption of biochar for burning in the textile and chemical industries in Ghana.

Objective
Development and demonstration of a value chain for use of treated wastewater for urban agriculture and promotion of biochar usage as substitute for wood fuel used in the kilns of textile and chemical industries, which can reduce emissions and reduce deforestation through reduction in dependence on wood fuel.

Key stakeholders and partners
Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Farmers Organizations Network of Ghana, The association of private water distributors, Water Resources Commission of Ghana, Association of Ghana Industries, CSIR Science and Technology Policy Research Institute & Water Research Institute.

Accra case – innovative actions
Use of wastewater from the Mudor Treatment Plant for urban agriculture after polishing treatment for additional particle removal and disinfection will be demonstrated in pilot scale. Addressing the institutional framework will be another key component of the case study while assessing and ensuring the quality of wastewater is within acceptable limits for irrigation. In addition, finding mechanisms to improve and maintain positive perceptions of treated wastewater and therefore acceptance of crops grown from treated wastewater resources would be imperative to the patronage of any business model developed for the wastewater value chain in Ghana. Through the Farmer Organisations’ Network of Ghana, a value chain that supports the adoption of treated wastewater for urban agriculture will be promoted. In addition, a value chain to promote use of biochar as replacement for wood fuel in kilns in the textile and chemical industries will be developed. These value chains will be relevant also for the Czech and Italian cases.

Outcomes
A primary outcome is to reduce pressure on the amount of surface water resources with the secondary outcome of supporting Ghana Government’s planting for food and jobs policy and creating jobs for the urban youth. Another primary outcome is to reduce the amount of wood fuel used in kilns for burning in the textile and chemical industries through improved recovery and dissemination of biochar to these industries.