Assessing the quality of water used for vegetable irrigation in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Clement Kamil Abdallah,Khaldoon A Mourad

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-84617-8

Abstract

This paper assesses water quality that is used for vegetable irrigation in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. A mixed-method of research design was employed in this study to collect and analyze the data based on survey instruments. The paper found that Escherichia coli (E. coli) that is usually used as an indicator of water contamination and heavy metals exist in all taken water samples. The mean concentrations of nutrients such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate were recorded as 0.022 mg/l to 5.98 mg/l for ammonia, 1.06 mg/l to 7.52 mg/l for nitrate, 0.031 mg/l to 0.056 mg/l for nitrate and 0.037 mg/l to 0.069 mg/l for phosphate. E. coli and Total Coliforms levels for Sanghani, Kamina and Waterworks from the laboratory analysis were recorded as 3.2 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 5.5 × 102 CFU 100 m/l, 4.0 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 1 × 102 CFU 100 m/l, and 2.1 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 4.6 × 102 CFU 100 m/l respectively. To conclude, based on the measured parameters, water used for irrigation in the Tamale Metropolitan is polluted and may cause potential health risks. Therefore, farmers, traders and consumers need to apply further safety measures to make the vegetables safe.

Highlights

The use of wastewater for irrigation is much more commonplace than generally believed
The objectives of this paper are: (1) to investigate the quality of irrigation water used by informal peri-urban vegetable farmers in Tamale metropolis and (2) to ascertain the perceptions of farmers and consumers on irrigation water quality and vegetables produce from the practice
E. coli and Total coliforms levels for Sangani, Kamina and Waterworks from the laboratory analysis were recorded as 3.2 × 1 03 colony-forming units (CFU) 100 m/l and 5.5 × 1 02 CFU 100 m/l, 4.0 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 1 × 1 02 CFU 100 m/l, and 2.1 × 1 03 CFU 100 m/l and 4.6 × 1 02 CFU 100 m/l respectively (Table 5)

Summary

Introduction

The use of wastewater for irrigation is much more commonplace than generally believed. This is because the vast majority of the developing world highly depends on it to augment declining water resource for food production[1]. The use of wastewater for irrigation is not limited to the developing world. Wastewater is often characterized as untreated, very low quality and poses a high risk in terms of health to consumers and farmers[8]. The use of wastewater for irrigation is increasing in exponentially in Africa and Asia due to population growth, high demand for perishable goods and water scarcity coupled with p overty[10]

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Conclusion