ASSESSMENT OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF FAECAL SLUDGE IN KUMASI METROPOLIS, GHANA

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Anaerobic degradation of organic waste is a natural treatment phenomenon that has lived with man since ancient times. However, the growing search for innovative and resource recoverable options to fast-track the decomposition process under regulated conditions has led to the development of anaerobic bioreactors which, in recent times, are receiving popularity especially in the developing countries. In Africa, one area where the application of this technology is still very young is faecal sludge (FS) treatment. Although, waste stabilization ponds are used for the treatment of faecal sludge in Kumasi, Ghana, there are some associated operational challenges due to difficulty in desludging the anaerobic ponds. As such, the treatment system has since 2014 been out of operations and is currently under rehabilitation. This study therefore sought to assess the feasibility of using anaerobic digestion (AD) as an alternative to pretreat the faecal sludge before discharging into the facultative ponds for further treatment.