INTERLINKING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION AND CROP QUALITY: AN OVERVIEW OF KEY INFLUENCING FACTORS AND THE IMPACT OF BIOGENIC MATERIALS
Authors: Onomah Desmond, Dr. Subash Thanappan, Dr. Reena M.R., Francis Adjei-Fio and Mills Prince
Onomah Desmond: Department of Civil Engineering, KAAF University, Ghana.
Dr. Subash Thanappan: Department of Civil Engineering, KAAF University, Ghana.
Dr. Reena M.R.: Department of Midwifery, KAAF University, Ghana.
Francis Adjei-Fio: Department of Civil Engineering, KAAF University, Ghana.
Mills Prince: Department of Civil Engineering, KAAF University, Ghana.
ABSTRACT
Population densities and freshwater resources are not the same everywhere in the world. This has made it necessary for farmers to use wastewater for watering crops. Even though wastewater can provide important nutrients to plants, there are many environmental, health, and sanitation problems linked to using it for irrigation. This is because wastewater can contain harmful microbes and disease-causing bacteria like E-coli, B-coli that can get into the crops. When people eat crops, especially fresh vegetables, they may become sick. The improper sanitation system and improper handling of biogenic wastes in Accra region (Ghana, West Africa) leads to contaminated water for agricultural use by the farmers. Poor sanitation and Open defecation in Kasoa region (Accra, Ghana) are the major problems connected to the microbial entry into soil and groundwater, in general. This leads to human health related issues including diarrhea, Hepatitis A. The pathogenic bacteria derived from open defecation and poor sanitation in the dry surface areas under high temperature and humidity are flourished rapidly. This additionally causes the damage of vegetables like Onion. The bacterial rots are found in vegetables, especially, in Onions, is the risky fact for human health. Hence, the current study had explored to analysis on quality of ground water in the study area. The study provides a comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality in Kasoa, highlighting the urgent need for treatment and policy-level interventions to ensure the provision of safe drinking water. The findings also contribute to the broader understanding of groundwater quality management in similar peri-urban settings across Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: Bacterial Soft Rot,Electric conductivity,Faecal coliforms, Foodborne Illnesses, Ground water contamination, Human health,Open defecation, Poor sanitation, Hardness of water, Hepatitis A, Water quality index