An assessment of septage and faecal sludge discharges into surface water sources in Ghana.

Surface water abstraction from rivers is the main source of potable water for many of the district capitals, municipal and metropolitan towns of Ghana. The points of abstraction on these rivers are usually located several kilometres downstream of their sources. These rivers serve as sinks for both non-point and point sources of pollution. The reliance of the urban population along these rivers on ill-maintained on-site public toilets and overflowing septic tanks renders urban run-off a vehicle for bacterial contamination of human origin. Downstream villages and small towns along the rivers use the water for drinking and other domestic purposes and therefore incidence of waterborne diseases of bacterial origin is therefore prevalent. This paper discusses the impact of discharges on Densu and Oda, two examples of surface waters employed for urban water supply, and makes suggestions for integrated water quality management as a tool for protecting surface water sources.