

@article {3241,
	title = {{Using on-farm sedimentation ponds to improve microbial quality of irrigation water in urban vegetable farming in Ghana.}},
	journal = {Water Science and Technology},
	volume = {57},
	number = {4},
	year = {2008},
	month = {jan},
	pages = {519{\textendash}25},
	abstract = {This paper presents an assessment of the potential of using on-farm ponds to reduce levels of microbial contamination in wastewater{\textendash}contaminated irrigation water. The study involved observations on the use of ponds in urban agriculture in Kumasi, Ghana, and more than 300 irrigation water samples were taken for physico-chemical and microbial laboratory analysis. The study shows that while on-farm ponds are commonly used, their potential to remove pathogens through sedimentation has not been fully optimized. Two-thirds of helminth eggs were in the sediments and careful collection of irrigation water without disturbing sediments reduced helminth eggs in irrigation water by about 70{\%}. Helminth eggs reduced from about 5 to less than 1 egg per litre in three days in both dry and wet seasons while thermotolerant coliforms took six days in the dry season to reduce from about 8 to 4 log units per 100 ml, to meet the WHO guidelines. For optimal pathogen removal, better pond designs, farmers{\textquoteright} training on collection of water with minimal disturbance and any other means to enhance sedimentation and pathogen die-off can be essential components of a multiple-barrier approach complementing farm-based measures like simple filtration techniques, better irrigation methods and post-harvest contamination.},
	keywords = {2.5 removal, Agriculture, Agriculture: methods, Animals, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterobacteriaceae: isolation {\&} purification, Fluid, Fluid: methods, Geologic Sediments, Geologic Sediments: microbiology, Ghana, Helminths, Parasite Egg Count, UASB, Vegetables, Waste Disposal, water, Water Supply, Water Supply: analysis, Water: parasitology},
	issn = {0273-1223},
	doi = {10.2166/wst.2008.166},
	url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18359990},
	author = {Keraita, B and Drechsel, P and Konradsen, F}
}
