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Today’s environment had seen technology taking the center stage in research, and several researches in this area assess the impact of technology on the society and business organizations. This study outlines the impact of computer mediated communication (CMC) on productivity and efficiency in the faecal sludge industry and Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited was used as a case study. Selective sampling technique was used to identify the institution and respondents were randomly selected to undertake the study. A total of 92 respondents were engaged and a questionnaire was administered in order to get the required responds. The study indicates that about 53% of the respondents admitted to the use of emails as medium in communication to be the best medium in attaining high efficiency and productivity, while 28% believed the use of What’s App application would improve the effectiveness and productivity. Some respondents preferred other methods, for example, communicating face to face which they have highlighted is a medium which enhances interpersonal relationships. The use of printed memo and letters as well as the use of the notice boards was also endorsed to have positive consequence on productivity and efficiency. It was noted that the usage of CMC is highly dependent on age and educational background. As the age of the respondents increased, there was decrease in the utility acceptance of CMC and the reverse was noted for educational background. The highly rated and preferred medium of communication based on the study is the most used medium utilized by Sewerage Systems Ghana Ltd. Employing the most preferred medium for communication in the organization is evidenced in the high performance of the staff which is reflective in the overall performance of the plant operations. The application of the CMC and the utilization of the appropriate medium or media in the management of faecal sludge highly aided the productivity and efficiency of personnel as well the overall performance of the plant operations and hence the organization.

The Rehabilitated Mudor sewage treatment plant at James Town was monitored over a period of 4 months (October 2017 to January 2018). This study analyzed the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the raw sewage and the treated effluent from the plant. The result indicates that the total removal efficiencies were 98.8%, 91.2%, 62.8%, 28.6%, 81.7%, 43.6%, 82.5% and 99.6% for BOD, COD, TSS, Nitrate-Nitrogen, Phosphate-Phosphorus, Ammonia-nitrogen, Sulphate and faecal coliform respectively. More than 13 parameters needed to be met according to the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guideline were satisfactorily met whiles ammonia, total suspended solids and phosphate were slightly out of range. From the results obtained, the overall performance of the rehabilitated plant was satisfactory and has seen some improvement with respect to the former recorded performance of the plant. With monitoring operation parameters for waste water plants discharge guidelines becoming stringent over the past years, it could be said that management of the Mudor rehabilitated treatment plant is on the right cause with full scale operation of the plant barely less than a year. Increase in the process steps through rehabilitation resulted in several significant improvements in effluent quality parameters.

Design of treatment plants for faecal sludge management systems relies on a comprehensive accurate knowledge of FS (faecal sludge) characteristics, but this information is lacking. Developing countries like Ghana, where large proportion of the urban population (Accra) rely on onsite sanitation systems, face a lot of FSM (faecal sludge management) design challenges as a result of lack of a comprehensive study data on physicochemical characteristics of raw faecal sludge after primary dewatering. Achieving a fully operational FSM chain would imply a well understanding of the characteristics of the FS and its dynamics after primary dewatering. A study was carried out to determine the characteristics of faecal sludge brought to the Lavender Hill treatment plant, Accra Metropolis, and environs to ensure the treatability and uses of the products after treatment. The treatment plant receives an average of 150 trucks (1350m3) a day with 58% coming from private homes and 42% from public toilets. Composite samples were made from both public and private toilets facilities. Samples were taken from a reservoir holding faecal sludge from both public and private facilities, examined on daily basis and characterized. The values obtained showed high concentrations of BOD and COD values. The COD: BOD ratios showed that the faecal sludge is not stabilized yet and can be further degraded. The calorific value for the dry sludge was found to be 15.16-15.82 MJ/kg and 16.39–18.31 MJ/kg for the wet sludge. The calorific value of the sludge is adequate enough to be used as potential feedstock for green energy generation. The high concentrations of COD and organic matter of the faecal sludge make it suitable enough for biogas generation. A good correlation (r=0.909,R2=82.6%) between the calorific value and the TVS was found to be CV=0.122TVS+7.44. Heavy metal concentrations were low and satisfied the EPA Ghana guidelines for sludge. Thus products from the treatment can be used for agricultural purposes.

Faecal sludge management has been a burden for most waste managers particularly in developing countries; yet a sure way of preventing the continuous disposal of this waste into drains, bushes water bodies and the environs in general has been by treatment. The introduction of a new treatment plant with the UASB technology in the management process of faecal sludge has been much welcomed as an improved technology for solving the treatment problems of the waste; but this technology is not without some challenges. It has no design criteria for the treatment of other wastes that it screens from faecal sludge. This paper assessed the foreign material load in faecal sludge dislodged at the treatment plant at the Lavender hill a suburb of the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The foreign materials in the faecal sludge were categorized into their material composition or items that were relatively easy to recognized. The characteristic components were Textile/Fabric, Condoms, Gravels, Metal, Glass, Sanitary pads, Rubber/Plastics and Others’ (cotton wool, mobile phones, broom sticks, paper wrappers, cartons, wallets, ID cards, money, feotus). The faecal sludge of Greater Accra region of Ghana contains about 0.24kg of foreign materials per cubic metre of the faecal sludge. Of this composition, the highest contribution was seen to have come from plastics contributing about 36.80%. Sanitary pads, textiles, ‘others’ category, condoms, stones, metals and glasses respectively contributing 29.89%,18.55%, 7.47%, 3.74%, 2.52%, 0.06% and 0.16%. The order of the load of the foreign materials were seen to be in the order of Plastics/Rubbers > Sanitary pads >Textiles/Fabrics > Others > Condoms > Gravels > Glass > Metals. These wastes pose mechanical and technical challenges to the treatment plant. Inasmuch as responsible environmental behavior through public sensitization on proper use of pit latrines in particular and the need for their redesign to make them almost impossible for use as dumping pits for other wastes were recommended, the utilization of some of these foreign materials that have the potential to be reused like the money, memory chips or mobile phones could potentially be a source of spread for disease like cholera and diarrhea as the FS contains a lot of pathogenic bacteria.

Faecal sludge management in Ghana has been undertaken in different scales using different methods for years. Each of these methods involves human intervention in one form or the other. Direct human-to-faecal matter contact cannot be avoided completely in faecal sludge treatment. However, the degree of contact depends on the finesse of technology employed. Also, emission of gaseous substances along the treatment value chain both as a direct result of the sludge or of chemicals being employed in the treatment process is another challenge. In whichever way the situation is looked at, all these processes will present occupational safety and health issues to workers and other stakeholders if not proactively regulated. Data was collected at five different levels using different instruments at Lavender Hill Faecal Treatment Plant operated by Sewerage Systems Ghana Ltd. was analyzed for this study. This was done to ascertain the status of Health and Safety Practices and worker risk and or hazard exposures in a typical faecal management in Ghana. It was realised that a very comprehensive safety management systems have been instituted to ensure protection for all. Activities at the plant are regulated by an approved written health and safety policy, environmental management policy and standard operating procedures documents. Physical structures have safety warning signs fixed on them where appropriate and the plant’s operations are supported with state-of-the-art technology – gas detectors, buoyancy devices around open tanks, supply of appropriate personal protective equipment, provision of sanitary facilities among others. Management of the plant considers health and safety of every person admitted to the site an utmost priority. This is demonstrated by management’s commitment to releasing funds and direct participation in safety programs. Awareness creation in the form of orientations and trainings is effectively communicated to all site patrons. Mental wellbeing of workers is ensured through a welfare system and a physical activity program. It is not surprising therefore that despite the extent of hazards associated with the faecal matter handling yet no serious incident, accident and or health related issues had yet been identified after more than a year of operation.