Definitions
Wastewater in the context of West African cities comprises domestic as well as water from commercial establishments, such as restaurants and institutions and stormwater from open drains, as well as runoff, in recent times increasingly mixed with discharge from industrial enterprises (Durotoye et al. 2018; Gashaye 2020). Greywater includes all wastewater generated from homes, except water emanating from water closets, which is in the category of blackwater (Brain et al. 2015). Urban agriculture covers all types of food production within cities and surrounding areas (Wagstaff and Wortman 2013).
Introduction
Urban agriculture, and especially, urban vegetable production plays an important role in the livelihoods of numerous West African citizens (Food and Agriculture Organization 2012; Hamilton et al. 2014; Levasseur et al. 2007; Thebo et al. 2014). It is an informal occupation which mostly engages these people who migrated from rural areas to urban centers without much formal...
References
Abdu N, Abdulkadir A, Agbenin JO, Buerkert A (2011) Vertical distribution of heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated vegetable garden soils of three West African cities. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 89:387–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-010-9403-3
Abubakari A (2018) Salmonella spp. implication in products of wastewater irrigation. J Trop Dis 6:283. https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-891X.1000283
Ackerson NOB, Awuah E (2010) Urban agriculture practices and health problems among farmers operating on a university campus in Kumasi, Ghana. Field Actions Science Reports. The Journal of Field Actions Special Issue 1, p 9
Adegoke AA, Amoah ID, Stenström TA, Verbyla ME, Mihelcic JR (2018) Epidemiological evidence and health risks associated with agricultural Reuse of partially treated and untreated wastewater: a review. Front Public Health 6:337. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00337
Amoah P, Drechsel P, Abaidoo RC (2005) Irrigated urban vegetable production in Ghana: sources of pathogen contamination and health risk elimination. Irrig Drain 54:49–61
Amoah P, Drechsel P, Henseler M, Abaidoo RC (2007) Irrigated urban vegetable production in Ghana: microbiological contamination in farms and markets and associated consumer risk groups. J Water Health 5:455–466
Amponsah O, Vigre H, Wilde Schou T, Boateng ES, Braimah I, Abaidoo RC (2015) Assessing low quality water use policy framework: case study from Ghana. Resour Conserv Recycl 97:1–15
Blumenthal UJ, Peasey A (2002) Critical review of epidemiological evidence of the health effects of wastewater and excreta use in agriculture. Document prepared for World Health Organization, Geneva. http://www.whoint/water_sanitation_health/wastewater/whocriticalrev.pdf
Boschio A, Clegg A, Mwagore D (eds) (2006) Health risks and benefits of urban and Peri-urban agriculture and livestock (UA) in sub-Saharan Africa. Resource papers and workshop proceedings. Urban poverty and environment series report #1, IDRC, p 136
Bougnom PB, Zongo C, McNally A, Ricci V, Etoa FX, Thiele-Bruhn S, Piddock LJV (2020) Wastewater used for urban agriculture in West Africa as a reservoir for antibacterial resistance dissemination. Environ Res 168:14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.022
Brain R, Lynch J, Kopp K (2015) Greywater systems. USU extension publication: sustainability2015/01pr. Available at: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/Sustainability_2015-01pr.pdf
Capozzi C, Maurici M, Panà A (2019) Antimicrobico resistenza: è crisi globale, “un lento tsunami” [Antimicrobial resistance: it is a global crisis, “a slow tsunami”]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 75(6):429–450
Chagomoka T, Drescher A, Glaser R, Marschner B, Schlesinger J, Nyandoro G (2015) Vegetable production, consumption and its contribution to diets along the urban-rural continuum in Northern Ghana. Afr J Food Agric Nutr Dev 15(4):10352–10367. ISSN 1684-5374
Chigor V, Ibangha I-A, Chigor C, Titilawo Y (2020) Treated wastewater used in fresh produce irrigation in Nsukka, Southeast Nigeria is a reservoir of enterotoxigenic and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. Heliyon 6(4) ISSN 2405-844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03780
Cobbina SJ, Kotochi MC, Korese JK, Akrong MO (2013) Microbial contamination in vegetables at the farm gate due to irrigation with wastewater in the tamale metropolis of Northern Ghana. J Environ Prot 4:676–682
Cofie OO, Van Veenhuizen R, Drechsel P (2003) Contribution of urban and peri-urban agriculture to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa day of the 3rd WWF in Kyoto, pp 17–13
Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) (2020) Ghana labour market profile 2020. Ulandssekretariatet, Copenhagen, p 45
Dickin SK, Schuster-Wallace CJ, Qadir M, Pizzacalla K (2016) A review of health risks and pathways for exposure to wastewater use in agriculture. Environ Health Perspect 124:900–909. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509995
Duedu KO, Yarnie EA, Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Attah SK, Donkor ES, Ayeh-Kumi PF (2014) A comparative survey of the prevalence of human parasites found in fresh vegetables sold in supermarkets and open-aired markets in Accra, Ghana. BMC Res Notes 7:836. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-836
Dufuor A, Bartram J, Bos R, Gannon V (eds) (2012) Animal waste, water quality and human health. IWA Publishing, London, p 489. ISBN: 9781780401232
Durotoye TO, Aderonke AA, Omole DO, Onakunle O (2018) Impact assessment of wastewater discharge from a textile industry in Lagos, Nigeria. Cogent Eng 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2018.1531687
Elahi E, Abid M, Zhang L, Alugongo GM (2017) The use of wastewater in livestock production and its socioeconomic and welfare implications. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 24(21):17255–17266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9263-3
Food and Agriculture Organization (2012) Growing greener cities in Africa. First status report on urban and peri-urban horticulture in Africa. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, p 116
Fung J, Keraita B, Konradsen F, Moe C, Akple M (2011) Microbiological quality of urban-vended salad and its association with gastrointestinal diseases in Kumasi, Ghana. Int J Food Safety Nutrit Public Health 4(2/3/4):152–166
Gashaye D (2020) Wastewater-irrigated urban vegetable farming in Ethiopia: a review on their potential contamination and health effects. Cogent Food Agric 6:1. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1772629
Hamilton AJ, Burry K, Mok H, Barker SF, Grove JR, Williamson VG (2014) Give peas a chance? Urban agriculture in developing countries A review. Agron Sustain Dev 34:45–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-013-0155-8
Hendriksen RS, Munk P, Njage P, van Bunnik B et al (2019) Global monitoring of antimicrobial resistance based on metagenomics analyses of urban sewage. Nat Commun 10(1):1124. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08853-3
Hollinger F, Staatz JM (2015) Agricultural growth in West Africa. Market and policy drivers. Co-published by the African Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, p 406
Kaetzl K, Lubken M, Gehring T, Wichern M (2018) Efficient low-cost anaerobic treatment of wastewater using biochar and woodchip filters. Water 10(7):818. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10070818
Kaetzl K, Lubken M, Uzun G, Gehring T, Nettmann E, Stenchly K, Wichern M (2019) On-farm wastewater treatment using biochar from local agro residues reduces pathogens from irrigation water for safer food production in developing countries. Sci Total Environ 682:601–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sctitotenv.2019.05.142
Khalid S, Shahid M, Natasha Bibi I, Sarwar T, Shah AH, Niaz NK (2018) A review of environmental contamination and health risk assessment of wastewater use for crop irrigation with a focus on low and high-income countries. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050895
Kouamé PK, Nguyen-Viet H, Dongo K, Zurbrügg C, Biemi J, Bonfoh B (2017) Microbiological risk infection assessment using QMRA in agriculture systems in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Environ Monit Assess 189:587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6279-6
Kouvonou FM, Honfoga BG, Debrah SK (1999) Sécurité alimentaire et gestion intégrée de la fertilité des sols: La contribution du maraîchage péri-urban à Lomé. In: Smith OB (ed) Agriculture urbaine en Afrique de l’Ouest: une contribution à la sécurité alimentaire et à l’assainissement des villes. Ottawa, IDRC-CTA
Lente I, Ofosu-Anim J, Brimah AK, Atiemo S (2014) Heavy metal pollution of vegetable crops irrigated with wastewater in Accra, Ghana. West Afr J App Ecol 22(1):41–58
Levasseur V, Kouamé C, Pasquini MW, Temple L (2007) A review of urban and peri-urban vegetable production in West Africa. In Lumpkin TA, Warrington IJ (eds) Proceedings of the XXVII IHC – Hort. Plants in Urban and Peri-Urban Life. Acta Hort. 762, ISHS, pp 245–252
Nieuwenhuijse DF, Oude Munnink BB, Phan M et al (2020) Setting a baseline for global urban virome surveillance in sewage. Sci Rep 10(1):13748. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69869-0
Niquice Janeiro CA, Marques A, Brito RMCL, van Lier JBA (2020) Use of (partially) treated municipal wastewater in irrigated agriculture; potentials and constraints for sub-Saharan Africa. Phys Chem Earth, Parts A/B/C (in Print). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.022
Orsini F, Kahane R, Nono-Womdim R, Gianquinto G (2013) Urban agriculture in the developing world: a review. Agron Sustain Dev 33(4):695–720. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-013-0143-z.hal-01201393. Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA
Paudyal N, Anihouvi V, Hounhouigan J et al (2017) Prevalence of foodborne pathogens in food from selected African countries–a meta-analysis. Int J Food Microbiol 249:35–43
Raschid-Sally L, Jayakody P (2008) Drivers and characteristics of wastewater agriculture in developing countries: results from a global assessment IWMI research report 127. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, 35p
Sampson A, de Graft-Johnson E, Ansah O et al (2017) Probabilistic quantitative microbial risk assessment model of farmer exposure to Cryptosporidium spp. in irrigation water within Kumasi Metropolis-Ghana. Microb Risk Anal 6:1–8
Sato T, Qadir M, Yamamoto S, Endo T, Zahoor A (2020) Global, regional, and country level need for data on wastewater generation, treatment, and use. Agric Water Manag 130:1–13
Sayo S, Kiratu JM, Nyamato GS (2020) Heavy metal concentrations in soil and vegetables irrigated with sewage effluent: a case study of Embu sewage treatment plant, Kenya. Scient Afr 8:e00337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00337
Scheierling SM, Bartone C, Mara DD, Drechsel P (2010) Improving wastewater use in agriculture: an emerging priority. No. WPS5412. The Energy, Transport and Water Department, Water Anchor, Washington, DC
Shamuyarira KK, Gumbo JR (2014) Assessment of heavy metals in municipal sewage sludge: a case study of Limpopo province, South Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health 11(3):2569–2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110302569
Singh PK, Deshbhratar PB, Ramteke DS (2012) Effects of sewage wastewater irrigation on soil properties, crop yield and environment. Agric Water Manag 103:100–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2011.10.022
Thebo AL, Drechsel P, Lambin EF (2014) Global assessment of urban and peri-urban agriculture: irrigated and rainfed croplands. Environ Res Lett 9:11
Wagstaff RK, Wortman SE (2013) Crop physiological response across the Chicago metropolitan region: developing recommendations for urban and peri-urban farmers in the North Central US. Renew Agric Food Syst 30(x):1–7. https://doi.org/10.1017/S174217051300046X
Wang H, Wang T, Zhang B (2014) Water and wastewater treatment in Africa – current practices and challenges. Clean (Weinh) 42(8):1029–1035. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201300208
Weldesillasie AB, Boelee E, Drechsel P, Dabbert S (2011) Wastewater use in crop production in peri-urban areas of Addis Ababa: impacts on health in farm households. Environ Dev Econ, pp 1–25https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355770X1000029X. Cambridge University Press
Wongnaa CA, Akuriba MA, Ebenezer A et al (2019) Profitability and constraints to urban exotic vegetable production systems in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana: a recipe for job creation. J Glob Entrep Res 9:33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-019-0158-2
World Bank, Urban Development & Resilience Unit (2013) Urban agriculture. Findings from four City case studies. World Bank, Washington, DC, p 104
World Health Organisation (2006) Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater: Wastewater use in agriculture (Volume II). http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wastewater/gsuweg2/en/index.html
Yabe J, Ishizuka M, Umemura T (2010) Current levels of heavy metal pollution in Africa. J Vet Med Sci 72(10):1257–1263. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.10-0058
Yates MV, Garba CP (1998) Microbial considerations in waste- water reclamation and reuse. In: Asano T (ed) Wastewater reclamation and reuse. Water quality management library, vol 10. Technomic Pub. Co., Inc, Lancaster, pp 437–488
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., Saba, C.K.S. (2021). Wastewater Use in West African Urban Agriculture: Benefits and Risks. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Clean Water and Sanitation. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70061-8_169-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70061-8_169-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70061-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70061-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences