Table of Contents

ROADS AND DRAINAGE...............................................................................................................................4

1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................4
Background of the Project...................................................................................................................4
Project Objectives................................................................................................................................4
Design Criteria.....................................................................................................................................5
Design Speed.......................................................................................................................................5
Desk Study...........................................................................................................................................5
Reconnaissance survey........................................................................................................................5
Site Map..................................................................................................................................................6
Roads...................................................................................................................................................6
Observations & Comments..................................................................................................................6
2. METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................................10
Data collection...................................................................................................................................10
Road class..........................................................................................................................................10
Shoulders...........................................................................................................................................10
Pedestrian Walkways.........................................................................................................................10
Lay-Bys...............................................................................................................................................11
Drains................................................................................................................................................11
Kerbs..................................................................................................................................................11
Street Lights.......................................................................................................................................11
3. PAVEMENT DESIGN...........................................................................................................................12
Design Criteria...................................................................................................................................12
Design Process...................................................................................................................................12
Estimation of Traffic Flow..................................................................................................................12
Design Life and Traffic Growth...........................................................................................................16
Total traffic loading over design life..................................................................................................16
Traffic Classification on Ayeduase High Street...................................................................................17
Design Vehicle (According Ghana Highway Authority Road Design Guide).......................................18
Functional Classification of Ayeduase High Street.............................................................................19
Choice of Pavement Structure...........................................................................................................19
Road Base Material Specification......................................................................................................19
Sub – Base Material Specifications....................................................................................................20
3. DESIGN OF THE SURFACE DRESSING..................................................................................................22
 Priming..............................................................................................................................................22
Selection of Chipping Size..................................................................................................................22
Recommended nominal size of chippings (mm)................................................................................22
Selection of Binder............................................................................................................................23
Determining the Average Least Dimension of Chippings...................................................................23
Determining the Overall Weighing Factor.........................................................................................23
From table and design specifications.................................................................................................24
Bitumen Spray Rate...........................................................................................................................25
Spread Rate of Chippings...................................................................................................................25
Environmental Impact Assessment....................................................................................................25
Positive..............................................................................................................................................25
Negative............................................................................................................................................26
Recommendations.................................................................................................................................27
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................27
WATER RESOURCES AND WATER SUPPLY.................................................................................................28
1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................28
Background of the project.................................................................................................................28
2. EXISTING SITUATION AT THE WEST END AREA..................................................................................29
3. ESTIMATION OF DEMAND.................................................................................................................30
FIRE DEMAND....................................................................................................................................31
CALCULATION OF DEMAND...............................................................................................................31
4. PROPOSED SOURCE OF WATER.........................................................................................................33
5. THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.............................................................................................................33
HYDRAULIC DESIGN...........................................................................................................................34
6. WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM.............................................................................................................35
7. DETERMINING THE YIELD OF A BORE HOLE.......................................................................................37
8. WATER QUALITY TEST........................................................................................................................38
WASTE MANAGEMENT..............................................................................................................................39
1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................39
CRITERIA FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT...............................................................................................39
2. WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE AYEDUASE VICINITY.........................................................................39
3. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT...........................................................................................................39
OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................................................40
METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................................40
OBSERVATIONS..................................................................................................................................40

2
 WASTE GENERATION.........................................................................................................................42
CURRENT TRENDS..............................................................................................................................42
MODE OF WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL.................................................................................43
PROBLEMS.........................................................................................................................................43
SOLUTION..........................................................................................................................................44
3. LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................................45
TYPES OF WASTEWATER....................................................................................................................45
SOURCES OF WASTEWATER..............................................................................................................45
OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................................................45
METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................................45
OBSERVATIONS..................................................................................................................................46
ESTIMATION OF GREY WATER DEMAND...........................................................................................48
PROBLEMS.........................................................................................................................................48
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS........................................................................................................................49
OPEN SEWER SYSTEM........................................................................................................................49
Technical requirements:....................................................................................................................49
CLOSED SEWER SYSTEM....................................................................................................................50
Technical requirements.....................................................................................................................50
COLLECTION AND TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER AT AYEDUASE.....................................................51
SEPTIC TANKS....................................................................................................................................51
STRUCTURES..............................................................................................................................................53
1. METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................................53
2. LOCATION..........................................................................................................................................53
3. MATERIAL FOR ELEVATED TANK........................................................................................................53
COMPARISM BETWEEN THE SUGGESTED MATERIALS.......................................................................54
4. UNDERGROUND TANK.......................................................................................................................54

3
 ROADS AND DRAINAGE
1. INTRODUCTION

Background of the Project

The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Works and Housing (MOWH) is assisting in a
community upgrading project to improve the livelihood of selected communities in Ghana. The
Ayeduase-Kotei area has been selected to benefit from the scheme.

The project development objective is to improve urban living conditions with regard to environmental
health, sanitation, drainage, vehicular access and solid and liquid waste management in a sustainable
fashion with special emphasis on low and middle income earners.

A major component of the project is Community Infrastructure Upgrading which aims to provide better
road network and drainage, water supply and distribution and sewerage networks, solid and liquid
waste management systems and traffic management.

Consequently, the M/s EDC lll 2012/2013 Civil Group 20 has been tasked to undertake the design of
proposals for the civil engineering infrastructure works in Ayeduase-Kotei area.

Project Objectives

The scope of works for the highway specialist to be undertaken was:

 Providing design layouts for intersections at various points on the road network system.
 Providing detailed geometric design for the roads.
 Providing the structural design of the road pavement.
 Good geometric alignment, both horizontal and vertical, of the road network system within the
Township.
 Providing cost estimates and detailed working drawings.

4
  Providing suitable road markings and signs at appropriate places and intervals.

Design Criteria
These guides/codes are to be used:
 Road Design Guide (Ghana Highway Authority, 1991)
 The Transport Research Laboratory (OVERSEAS ROAD NOTE 31)
 The Transport Research Laboratory (OVERSEAS ROAD NOTE 40)
 The Transport Research Laboratory (OVERSEAS ROAD NOTE 5)

Design Speed
A design speed of 50km/hr has been chosen for the design. This was done taking into consideration the
functional and terrain type of the roadway.

Desk Study
The design of a flexible pavement structure would be successful when the following data is known:
 Traffic volume and characteristics
 Sub grade strength and characteristics

Reconnaissance survey
Ayeduase-Koteiis an old suburban area in Kumasi. A trip was taken to the Township to acquaint
ourselves with the conditions of the area.

1 The area is an already built up community.

2 There is an existing road network system which needs to be upgraded to conform to the
standard of the Department of Urban Roads.
3 Some of the existing roads are mainly earth roads and have no proper drains constructed.
4 The roads are of varying widths at several sections

5
The soil type on the proposed roads ranges from sandy to hard lateritic portions

Site Map

Figure 1: Site Map

Roads

Observations & Comments

1. Road Name - Ayeduase High Street

Code No. - AY / UR / 01

Road condition - Good.Engineered.

Approaches condition - Good

6
High congestion on highway. Existing drainage structures present
2. Road Name - Gate - West end

Code No. - AY / A / 01

Road condition - Good.

Approaches condition - Good.

Drains on both side of the road.Untarred.

3. Road Name - Bema Nkwan - Beacon Hostel

7
 Code No. - AY / A / 02

Road condition - Poor.

Approaches condition - Poor.

4. Road Name - Atta Mills Junction - Dr.Sarfo Hostel

Code No. - AY / A / 03

Road condition - Good.

Approaches condition - Good.

8
5. Road Name - School Junction - Mango Road

Code No. - AY / A / 04

Road condition - Poor.

Approaches condition - Poor.

No drains

9
 2. METHODOLOGY

Data collection

A group of people were laboured to carry out volume count on some chosen roads at the area to get the
volume of road which would be plying the road.
The geotechnical engineers were employed to carry out some site investigations of the existing sub-
grade to produce the California Bearing Ratio of the sub-grade and also to check the geotechnical
properties of materials to be used for the road construction.

Road class
The design standards according to the design guide are related to the road class which is varied
according to the terrain of the area and the functional classification of the road.
From the guide and the terrain of the area, it could be seen that the class of the road is a residential or
town road.

Shoulders
Shoulders were provided to protect the road pavement, provide parking space partly off the
carriageway for distressed vehicles. The shoulders also ensure safety and comfort of motorists. A
shoulder width of 2m was provided with 0.6m covered drain taking part of the width.

Pedestrian Walkways
Due to the high population of the area and to prevent conflict between vehicles and the pedestrian, a
pedestrian walkways were constructed were needed and space would allow for the introduction of it. A
cross slope of 2% shall be used for the construction.

10
Lay-Bys
Lay-bys were constructed for vehicles to stop for a while, either to take passengers or to drop off
passengers. This was provided so that these vehicles would not interfere with the traffic flow when
there is the need for them to stop. Lay-bys without separators were provided due to the low level of
traffic on the road.

Lay – by without a separator (all dimension in m)

Drains
Drains were provided at the sides of the roads were space would allow to carry away water from the
surface of the road to prevent causing damages to the road pavement. The drains were covered to serve
as an extension for the stopping lane.
The detailed design of the drains was carried out by the Water Resource Development and Drainage
expect.

Kerbs
Non mountable kerbs shall be provided along the roads where there are no drains. Where there are
drains, the drain shall be made a J-drain making a protrusion out of the surface of the road. This is to be
made according to the size of the non mountable kerb.

Street Lights
Street light will be provided at alternate distance of 50m apart along the sides of the road to help in
illuminating the road at night times for easy visibility of the road by drivers and pedestrians using the
road at night.

11
 3. PAVEMENT DESIGN

Design Criteria
The pavement design depends on the following parameters;
 Traffic load and characteristics
 Properties of the pavement materials
 Strength of the sub grade.

Design Process
The main processes by which the pavement was designed are;
 Estimation of the traffic flow and cumulative number equivalent standard axle loads that will use
the road over the design life of 20 years.
 The sub grade over which the pavement was to be placed was assess for it strength. That is the
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of the sub grade.
 The most economical pavement combinations and layer thickness was selected to satisfy the
traffic flow over the design life

Estimation of Traffic Flow

A classified volume count was conducted by consultants on Thursday, 4 th April, 2013 on the 2-lane
Ayeduase High Street in order to determine ADT of each vehicle class in each direction.

12
13
DIRECTION: (→)

14
Vehicle Class 7:00am- 8:00- 9:00- EXPANSIO 24hr volume for ADT
8:00AM 9:00am 10:00am N Thursday
Pedestrian 19 71 24 2567.75 856 857
Cycles 3 5 6 310.05 103 104
Motor Bikes 15 26 17 1327.9 443 443
Taxis 79 145 267 10507.85 3503 3509
Private Cars 80 139 110 7452.95 2484 2489
Pick 0 4 12 313.8 105 105
Up/Van/4WD
VEH
Small Bus 183 281 360 18271.05 6090 6101
MED. 0 0 2 37.6 13 13
BUS/Mammy
Wagon
Large Bus 0 0 1 18.8 6 6
Light Truck 8 6 8 514.7 172 172
Medium Truck
Heavy Truck
Small
Trailer(Light)
Semi-
Trailer(Heavy)
Truck Trailer
Extra Large
Truck & Others

DIRECTION: (←)
Vehicle Class 7:00am- 8:00- 9:00- EXPANSIO 24hr volume for ADT
8:00am 9:00am 10:00am N Thursday
Pedestrian 25 46 36 2416.1 805 807
Cycles 2 2 4 177.3 59 59
Motor Bikes 20 19 25 1468.95 490 490
Taxis 109 147 226 10651.15 3550 3556
Private Cars 203 195 302 15864.35 5288 5297
Pick 23 17 17 1361.45 454 455
Up/Van/4WD
VEH
Small Bus 145 198 254 13346.1 4449 4456
MED. 3 4 1 194 65 65
BUS/Mammy
Wagon
Large Bus 1 1 0 51.05 17 17
Light Truck 7 5 4 388.45 129 130
Medium Truck
Heavy Truck
Small
Trailer(Light)
Semi-
Trailer(Heavy)
Truck Trailer
Extra Large
Truck & Others

15
Vehicle Class (→) (←) SF ADT ADT
(→) (←)
Pedestrian 857 807 1.08 926 747
Cycles 104 59 1.08 112 55
Motor Bikes 443 490 1.08 479 454
Taxis 3509 3556 1.08 3789 3293
Private Cars 2489 5297 1.08 2688 4905
Pick Up/Van/4WD VEH 105 455 1.08 113 421
Small Bus 6101 4456 1.08 6589 4126
MED. BUS/Mammy Wagon 13 65 1.08 14 60
Large Bus 6 17 1.08 7 16
Light Truck 172 130 1.08 186 120
Medium Truck
Heavy Truck
Small Trailer(Light)
Semi-Trailer(Heavy)
Truck Trailer
Extra Large Truck & Others

VEHICLE
EALF
CLASSIFICATION
Cars 0.00003923
Pick Up/4wd Vehicles 0.00056245
Small Bus/Van 0.00087323
Med. Bus/Mammy
0.04678287
Wagon
Large Bus 1.62799836
Light Truck 0.27502031
Medium Truck 1.70172452
Heavy Truck 6.06739394
Semi-Trailer(Light) 5.17926554
Semi-Trailer(Heavy) 11.97579963
Truck Trailer 18.14044804
TOTAL  

EALF ADT (→) ESAL/DAY ADT (←) ESAL/DAY

3.92E-05 6477 0.2541 8198 0.3216

16
0.000562 113 0.0636 421 0.2367
0.000873 6589 5.7536 4126 3.6031
0.046783 14 0.6343 60 2.8060
1.627998 7 11.0372 16 25.6950
0.27502 186 51.0464 120 33.0293
1.701725 0 0.0000 0 0.0000
6.067394 0 0.0000 0 0.0000
5.179266 0 0.0000 0 0.0000
11.9758 0 0.0000 0 0.0000
18.14045 0 0.0000 0 0.0000
  0 0.0000

SUM 68.7893 SUM 65.6917

MESA/yr 25108.082 23977.486

Design Life and Traffic Growth

 Design Period - 20 years

 Traffic Growth Rate - 5%
 Number of years to start of design life - 1 year max

Total traffic loading over design life

Using data from the lane with the highest traffic loading the total traffic loading over the design life
is calculated using the following equation in the Overseas Road Note 40 TRL (2004):

( ) [( ) ( )]
c+d d
a ×365 ×100 b b
Total Cumulative ESA ( one way )= × 1+ − 1+
b 100 100

Where: a = current annual daily traffic loading in ESA per day (one way)

b = annual growth rate (%)

c = design life (years)
d = number of years to start of design life

17
 ( ) [( ) ( )]
20+1 1
68.79 ×365 ×100 5 5
⇒Total Cumulative ESA ( one way ) = × 1+ − 1+
5 100 100

¿ 871743.13 cumulative standard axles

6
¿ 0.87 ×10 cumulative standard axles

Traffic Classification on Ayeduase High Street

From the above table derived from ORN 31, traffic class on Ayeduase high street is T3.

Now, assuming sub-grade strength of S4 from the table below, the sub-grade of the road is assumed
to have a CBR of between 8% and 14%.

18
Figure 2: Typical pavement structure Ayeduase High Street

Design Vehicle (According Ghana Highway Authority Road Design Guide)

VC Frequency %
Small Vehicle 2063 50.95
Large Vehicle 1469 36.28
Trailer 0 0

*Small Vehicle
 Cars - private cars, hire cars and taxis
 Vans, pick-ups, landrovers and jeeps with 2-axles with single rear wheels

*Large Vehicle
 Light buses and small buses with seats up to 25 people
 Mammy wagons - special trucks built with wooden bodies for carrying both passengers and
goods
 Large buses which seats more than 25 people
 Light trucks (2-axle) 2-axle lorry or tanker with twin rear wheels
 Medium trucks (3-axle) lorry or tanker

*Trailer
 Heavy trucks (4-axle) lorry or tanker with four or more axles
 Other vehicles - Tractors, Bulldozers, Graders, or other heavy agricultural and
constructional machinery

 Design vehicle is LARGE VEHICLE.

Functional Classification of Ayeduase High Street

19
  With reference to the GHA Road Design Guide and from careful study of the characteristics
of the road corridor, the high street is classified as a NORMAL TOWN OR RESIDENTIAL
road.
 TERRAIN CLASSIFICATION: FLAT

Choice of Pavement Structure

Based on the traffic category and the class of the sub-grade (soaked CBR of 4), a pavement structure was
chosen with the help of the Overseas Road Notes 31.
A single surface dressing shall be used with a granular road base of 150mm and a granular sub – base of
175mm with a capping of 50mm.
The main functions of the pavement are to
 support the applied traffic loads and distribute them to the sub-grade.
 It is to ensure that the various layers of the pavement reduce the stress to a significant value not
to exceed the bearing strength of the sub-grade.
 The pavement also ensures that there is no significant seepage of water into the sub-grade.

Road Base Material Specification

According to the TRL, Overseas Road Notes 31 graded crushed stone/ rock of GB1, B shall be used for
the road base.

Grading limits for graded crushed stone road base materials (GB1 B).

Table copied from TRL Overseas Road Notes 31 (A guide to structural design of bitumen-
surfaced roads in tropical and sub-tropical countries)

20
A nominal maximum particle size of 14mm is to be used. It is to have a plastic index not exceeding 6 with
a minimum soaked Ten Percent Fine Value of 60kN. After crushing, the material should be angular in
shape with a flakiness index of less than 35 per cent.
The material is to be compacted to a density equal to 98% of the maximum dry density achieved in the
British Standard (heavy) compaction test, 4.5 kg rammer.

Sub – Base Material Specifications

A minimum CBR value of 60 sub-base materials shall be used for the construction of the road sub-grade.
It is to enable traffic stresses to be reduced to acceptable levels before reaching the sub-base. The
recommended plasticity characteristics of the sub-base material have been shown in table 4.7. the
plasticity index of the sub base material is 5.13 which is less than the recommended plasticity index
which is 6. So it is suitable for its purpose as a sub base material. The liquid limit obtained by my
geotechnical expert was 17.18 which is also less than the limit hence appropriate for its purpose once
again.

Recommended plasticity characteristic of granular sub-base

Table copied from TRL Overseas Road Notes 31 (A guide to structural design of bitumen-
surfaced roads in tropical and sub-tropical countries)

It is also to have a particle size distribution in the ranges as shown in table.

21
Typical particle size distribution for granular sub-base which will meet strength requirements

Table copied from TRL Overseas Road Notes 31 (A guide to structural design of bitumen-
surfaced roads in tropical and sub-tropical countries)

3. DESIGN OF THE SURFACE DRESSING

Priming

The base of the road would be primed with an MC 30 cutback to prepare the road for the application of
the binder.
 The binder is to assist in promoting and maintaining adhesion between the road base and the
surface dressing by pre-coating the road base and penetrating surface voids.
 It also seals the surface pores in the road base thus reducing the absorption of the first spray of
binder of the surface dressing.
 The primer also strengthens the road base near the surface by binding the finer particle of the
aggregates together.

22
Selection of Chipping Size
Based on the traffic loads and the hardness of the road base surface, a design nominal chipping size of
14mm is to be used for the first layer.

Recommended nominal size of chippings (mm)

Table copied from TRL Overseas Road Notes 3 (A guide to surface dressing in tropical and sub –
tropical countries)

Selection of Binder
The choice of bitumen chosen was based on these factors;
 They must be capable of being sprayed.
 They must be capable of ‘wetting’ the surface in a continuous film.
 They must be able to adhere to the chippings at road temperature.
 They must be strong enough to resist traffic forces and hold the chippings at the highest
prevailing temperatures.
 They must also remain flexible at the lowest temperature, neither cracking nor becoming brittle
enough to allow traffic to ‘pick-off’ the chippings
 They must also resist premature weathering and hardening.
MC3000 cutback bitumen shall be used for the construction. This is basically an 80/100 penetration
grade bitumen blended with approximately 12 to 17 per cent of cutter.

23
The cutter preferable should be a diesel so that a slow curing cutback is obtained to give more time for
the application of the chippings.

Determining the Average Least Dimension of Chippings

The ALD is the average thickness of a single layer of chippings when they have bedded down into their
final interlocking positions. In determining the average least dimension of the chippings, the sieve size
through which 50% of the chipping pass is determined (i.e. the ‘median size’). The flakiness index is also
determined.

Determining the Overall Weighing Factor

The overall weighting factor ‘F’ is determined by adding together four factors that represent: the level of
traffic, the condition of the existing road surface, the climate and the type of chippings that will be used.
These factors are selected from table.

24
Table copied from TRL Overseas Road Notes 31(A guide to surface dressing in tropical and sub
– tropical countries)

From table and design specifications

Design Specification Factor
Traffic (heavy) -3
Existing surface (untreated or primed base) +6
Climatic conditions ( temperate) 0

25
Type of chippings (cubical) 0
Overall weighting factor ‘F’ +3

Bitumen Spray Rate

The basic rate of spread of bitumen (R) is the mass of MC3000 binder per unit area on the road surface
immediately after spraying.

Spread Rate of Chippings

This is to estimate the quantity of chippings that is required for the surface dressing project before
crushing and stockpiling of the chippings.
The precise chipping application rate should be determined on the site by observing whether there is
any exposed binder or not. If there is any exposed binder, then the spreading rate is not adequate and
must be increased but if chippings are resting on top of each other then, the spreading rate is too high
and must be reduced. The best spreading rate will resulting the chippings being tightly packed.

Environmental Impact Assessment

The present environmental conditions on the site were considered. The potential positive and negative
impacts of the propose access roads on the environment were also assessed.

Positive

 Provision of a roadway network that would be reliable at all times.

 Reduction in general travel time.
 Improved surface and driving conditions.
 Reduction in vehicle operating cost.
 Reduction in vehicular and pedestrian conflicts.
 Reduction in traffic congestion.
 Improved road safety and pedestrian facilities.

26
Negative
 Air pollution compromising the health situation of the people for the period of construction.
 Erosion
 Waste generation and disposal
 Noise
 Disruption in the free flow of local transport.

Recommendations

27
  The height of the spraying bar from the surface of the road should be such that the bitumen
from each nozzle overlaps the other to prevent streaking from occurring.
 After the first layer has been spread, the road should be open to traffic for about one or two
weeks to allow good settlement of the chippings before the second layer is applied.
 All potholes developed on the road should be sealed as soon as possible to prevent it from
spreading.
 Skid resistance should be restored when and as they are needed on the road.
 The road should be compacted with a pneumatic roller so as not to cause crushing of the
aggregates.

Conclusion
Ayeduase-Kotei is a built up area lacking many basic amenities. The socio-economic situation of the
people needs to be enhanced. One key factor to improving this is facilitating the community with a
reliable road network system which will enhance and therefore upgrade the living standards of the
people.

References

 GHANA HIGHWAY AUTHORITY ROAD DESIGN GUIDE, March 1991

 TRANSPORT RESEARCH LABORATORY (TRL) OVERSEAS ROAD NOTE 31, 40 & 5.
 TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERING, NICOLAS J GARBER AND LESTER A HOEL, WEST PUBLISHING COMPANY
 LECTURE NOTES, DR. SALIFU.
 CIVIL ENGINEERING STANDARD METHOD OF MEASUREMENT, THIRD EDITION, THOMAS TELFORD, LONDON 1981

28
 WATER RESOURCES AND WATER SUPPLY

1. INTRODUCTION

Background of the project

Water is a very essential resource in the environment which can be used for various purposes.
Water is used within the household for drinking, personal hygiene, cooking and cleaning,
irrigating gardens, filling ponds and swimming pools and a whole lot. It is therefore very
necessary to provide this resource in quantity and good quality and if possible for a 24hr
duration.

As consultants from the Civil Engineering Department, we have been tasked to provide or
supply portable quality drinking water to the West End Area of the Ayeduase Community with a
constant flow of water for a duration of 24hrs. The West End Area of the Ayeduase Community
can be located in Kumasi, a few meters away from the KNUST campus in the Ashanti Region.

The study or design area is made up of both students and the community inhabitants. There is a
mixture of the high class income, middle class income and the low class income all residing
there. Therefore the demand of water within the area will vary from one class of persons to
another. This implies that the different uses of water will vary from one person to another .

29
A section of the West End Area of the Ayeduase community showing the hostels which
comprises of students and other residents.

2. EXISTING SITUATION AT THE WEST END AREA

30
From a survey conducted on the site on the 18th of march 2013, it was found out that the West
End Area of the Ayeduase Community do not get water from the GHANA WATER COMPANY
LIMITED (GWCL). The interview conducted reveiled that GWCL do not have connected pipelines
to the area in question therefore most hostels and households depend on boreholes and wells
as their current source of water.

This is a picture showing a well as a source of water for a particular compound house at the
West End section of the Ayeduase community.

A picture showing a borehole unit that serves part of the community .

3. ESTIMATION OF DEMAND
In the design of a water supply system it is very important to estimate the quantity of water
that will be required by the community. This estimate is used to determine the sizes capacities

31
of all the constituents of the water supply system. The two factors used to estimate the water
requirement of the community are:

1. Population at the end of the design period.

2. Water consumption per capita per day.

The design period is the period into the future for which the estimate is to be made. For our
project, a design period of 20 years was chosen in order not to place the full financial burden on
the present generation and a short period was avoided in order to avoid the design being
uneconomical.

The population of the design area is very important here since this will help calculate the
demand of water per person per day. The per capita consumption is the average water
consumption per person and it is usually expressed in liters per capita per day (l/c/d). A data
request from the Ghana Statistical Service reveiled that the population of the whole Ayeduase
community is 13470 people. Now for our design area which is the West End Area we estimated
the population as 4300 people. This is an assumed value and the value was arrived by
considering the number of hostels and households in the area.

FIRE DEMAND

During fire outbreaks, large quantity of water is required for throwing it over the fire to
extinguish it, therefore provision of 15% has been made in the design to supply sufficient
quantity of water or keep as reserve in the water mains for this purpose. Fire hydrants are
provided on the water mains at vantage points.

CALCULATION OF DEMAND

The KMA Development plan for Kumasi Metropolitan Area, 1996 gives the water demand for
the various income groups in Kumasi as low income 60l/c/d, middle income 90l/c/d and high
income 120l/c/d. Now at the West End Area of the Ayeduase Community, it was identified that
there was a composition of the low class income and the middle class income with a few high
class income in terms of water demand. It was therefore proposed that 90l/c/d should be used
for the design since this figure recorded the average and also to cater for shortages and the
inclusion of a partial factor of safety. Other observations made were the presence of

32
institutional and commercial demand. Shops, restaurants and offices which constitutes the
commercial demand and schools and churches which constitutes the institutional demand.

Design demand = 90l/c/d

Population = 4300

To find the design population, we use the general formula:

Design population = P0(1+i)n

Where PO=current population

I=growth rate which is 2%

N=20 years which is the design period proposed

Design population = P0(1+i)n

2 20
=4300(1+ )
100

=6389.5

=6390

So this value gives the design population of the area for 20 years.

So we multiply this value by the design demand

=6390 x 90 l/c/d

575100 l/d

So this is the total demand of water needed per day for 20 years.

This is the average demand of the area is 575100 l/d and to get the maximum demand a
maximum peak factor is used. From the GWL design criteria report, the seasonal peak daily
factor of 1.2 and a maximum hourly factor of 2.0 is used.

So we change the demand to m3 per hour.

575100l /d
=
1000 x 24

33
=23.96m3/h

Peak hourly demand = k1 x K2 x Average hourly demand

=1.2 x 2.0 x 23.96

=57.50m3/h

So now this is the maximum demand in m3/h and to convert this to m3/d

=57.50 x 24 = 1380m3/d

4. PROPOSED SOURCE OF WATER

After the survey and thorough investigations, the civil engineering department group decided
to use groundwater as the main source of water and rainwater as the secondary source to the
community. The use of borehole was proposed because it is most commonly used, more
economical and safe.

5.THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

The function of a water distribution is to carry or convey water to the consumers from the
treatment works in sufficient quantity and good pressures and in good quality.

There are three kinds of pipes in the market and these are the metal type, the PVC pipes and
the HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Due to the characteristics properties of the three types
of pipes it was proposed that the HPDE pipe should be used for the design. This was chosen
because HDPE pipes are flexible and flexibility allows simple handling and installation. Because
of it’s low density the pipes are very light in weight. These pipes also have a good resistance to
acids and alkaline.

A land of 60.41m by 50.21m was secured in the design area to design the water supply system.
The highest elevation of the design area was chosen and this was 275m above sea level.

Two boreholes at the design site are being drilled and pumped to the treatment system and the
treated water goes to the underground tank located in the design area. This water is therefore
pumped to the overhead tank which supplies the West End Area of the Ayeduase community
by gravity.

34
HYDRAULIC DESIGN

The maximum demand of the area is used to size the pipes. The maximum demand of the area
was 1380m3/d.

Q= 1380m3/d or Q=0.02m3/s

Q=v x A

Assume v= 1m/s

π d2
0.02= 1 x
4

D=
√ 0.02 x 4
π

= 0.1595769m

=160mm

Q= v x A

v x π (0.16)
0.02 =
4

V=0.995m/s
−6
Kinematic viscosity = 497 x 10
¿¿

Assuming a temperature of 200

Kinematic viscosity = 1.006 x 10−6 m2/s

vD
Re =
v

0.995 x 0.16
−6
1.006 x 10

=158250.50

By using Barr’s equation to find lambda

35
Lambda= 0.08

lambda x l 2
Hf = Q
12.1 x d

Hf = 2.1

6. WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM

Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological
contaminants, suspended solids and gases from contaminated water.

Most water is purified for human consumption (drinking water), but water purification may also
be designed for a variety of other purposes, including meeting the requirements of medical,
pharmacological, chemical and industrial applications.

The water emerging from some deep ground water may have fallen as rain many tens,
hundreds, or thousands of years ago. Soil and rock layers naturally filter the ground water to a
high degree of clarity and often it does not require additional treatment other than
adding chlorine or chloramines as secondary disinfectants. Such water may emerge as springs,
artesian springs, or may be extracted from boreholes or wells

Pumping and containment – The majority of water must be pumped from its source or directed
into pipes or holding tanks. To avoid adding contaminants to the water, this physical
infrastructure must be made from appropriate materials and constructed so that accidental
contamination does not occur.

Coagulation and flocculation

One of the first steps in a conventional water purification process is the addition of chemicals to
assist in the removal of particles suspended in water called Coagulants. These particles can be
inorganic such as clay and silt or organic such as algae, bacteria, viruses, protozoa and natural
organic matter. Inorganic and organic particles contribute to the turbidity and colour of water.

36
The addition of inorganic coagulants such as aluminum sulfate (or alum) or iron (III) salts such
as iron (III) chloride cause several simultaneous chemical and physical interactions on and
among the particles.

Sedimentation

 It is a large tank with low water velocities, allowing floc to settle to the bottom. The
sedimentation basin is best located close to the flocculation basin so the transit between the
two processes does not permit settlement or floc break up. Sedimentation basins may be
rectangular, where water flows from end to end, or circular where flow is from the centre
outward. Sedimentation basin outflow is typically over a weir so only a thin top layer of water—
that furthest from the sludge—exits.

As particles settle to the bottom of a sedimentation basin, a layer of sludge is formed on the
floor of the tank. This layer of sludge must be removed and treated. The amount of sludge that
is generated is significant, often 3 to 5 percent of the total volume of water that is treated

Filtration

After separating most floc, the water is filtered as the final step to remove remaining
suspended particles and unsettled floc.

Water fluoridation 

Addition of fluoride to the water supply to reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water has fluoride
at a level that is effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding fluoride

Disinfection

Disinfection is accomplished both by filtering out harmful micro-organisms and also by adding
disinfectant chemicals. Water is disinfected to kill any pathogens which pass through the filters
and to provide a residual dose of disinfectant to kill or inactivate potentially harmful micro-
organisms in the storage and distribution systems. Possible pathogens include viruses, bacteria,

Chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant, and it is added to water supplies to kill disease-causing
pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoans, that commonly grow in water supply
reservoirs, on the walls of water mains and in storage tanks.

37
A diagram showing the water treatment plant.

7. DETERMINING THE YIELD OF A BORE HOLE

Test pumping of boreholes is normally carried out to meet two main objectives:

1. To establish borehole potential. To estimate the sustainable yield and hydraulic

performance of individual boreholes for water supplies.

2. To establish aquifer potential. To assess the hydraulic characteristics of the aquifer to

determine groundwater resources.

Test pumping consists of pumping a borehole at a specified rate and recording the water
level (and therefore the drawdown) in the pumping well as well as in nearby observation
boreholes at specific time intervals. When these measurements are substituted in
appropriate flow equations, certain hydraulic parameters can be calculated. These
parameters, together with qualitative assessment of discharge-drawdown characteristics,
are then used for the assessment of a recommended yield of the boreholes and or aquifers.

The borehole is pumped at a constant discharge rate over a period ranging from 8 to 48
hours (or longer) - the length of the test is normally proportional to the expected yield and
importance of the borehole. The discharge is kept constant for the duration of the test, and
water levels are recorded in the pumping borehole as w.ell as observation boreholes (if
any). The time-drawdown data is then analyzed for quantitative and qualitative analysis of
borehole and aquifer response to pumping. The analysis provides useful input to assess the

38
sustainable yield of individual boreholes and the potential of aquifers. Hydrogeologists are
trained to utilize different mathematical equations to estimate a sustainable yield.

Recovering water levels are measured in the pumping borehole immediately, when the
pump is switched off. This recovery test is very useful in qualitatively assessing the pumping
effect and possible dewatering of aquifers that may result due to the limited extent of an
aquifer.

Furthermore the recovery test will indicate the level to which the aquifer is actually
dewatered by measuring the residual drawdown after the borehole was allowed to recover.

8. WATER QUALITY TEST

Water requirements by the GHANA WATER COMPANY LIMITED , WORLD HEALTH
ORGANISATION and GHANA STANDARD BOARD should be met. i.e the water provided or
supplied to the area should meet the guidelines by these organisations in other no to pose
health problems. Below are the required values that should be met.

Characteristic GWCL WHO GSB

Microbial
examination
Turbidity
pH
Hardness
Alkalinity
Colour
Flouride
determination

39
 WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal, managing and
monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human
activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health,
the environment or aesthetics.

1. INTRODUCTION

CRITERIA FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT

 The system must be appropriate

 It must appeal to the demographic
 It should be affordable
 It should be acceptable

2. WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE AYEDUASE VICINITY

The management of solid and liquid waste in the Ayeduase community is practically
nonexistent. This is due to the lack of proper management, facilities and the general ignorance
of the community inhabitants.
The community may be classified into three (3) main classes of consumers:
 Middle income households
 Low income households
 Student (they may be classified as middle income)

3. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Solid waste is any material which comes from domestic, commercial, and industrial sources
arising from human activities which has no value to people who possess it and is discarded as
useless.
Solid waste management refers to source separation, storage, collection, transportation and
final disposal of waste in an environmentally sustainable manner.

40
OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of the project were;

 Review the solid waste system in operation in the Ayeduasevicinity in the environs of
the project area.
 Propose and design improved and appropriate solid waste management
system(collection, treatment and disposal)

METHODOLOGY

The data was collected through the following method

 Research into the available reading material
 Interviews with the inhabitants of the study area in order to get their opinions.
 Inspection and observation of study area
 Consultation with relevant agencies.
 Questionnaires.

OBSERVATIONS

For most of the households in Ayeduase, the disposal of solid waste is a major problem. Unlike
other communities (egBuokrom estates) where a curbside collection system is practiced, in
Ayeduase, the method of communal collection is the mode of waste management.
In the low income households, the waste is collected in buckets or plastic bags. These are then
carried to a secondary collection point behind the Ayeduase market. The Ayeduase market site
is un-engineered and serves as a temporary storage site. There is one skip available. Other than
this, some of the inhabitants have resorted to the burning of their solid waste on the premises
of their homes. Due to the cost involved in disposing of their waste at the Westend Hostel skip,
others have also created an unauthorized dumping site located a little distance away from By-
His-Grace Hostel. The waste at this location is treated through the process of incineration.
Other homes (mainly middle class) dispose of their waste in the same manner. However the
difference lies in the location of the dumping site. The waste is sent to an un-engineered site
behind the West-end hostel where the inhabitants pay a user fee of 80pesewas to deposit their
waste in the skip on site. The waste from the student hostels in the vicinity is collected by the
sanitation workers on a daily basis and is also sent to the secondary collection site at the
Westend hostel.

41
This skip is insufficient for the use of the whole community and is often found to be overflowing
with rubbish. The skip is emptied on an as-when basis that is it is emptied when full.
The skips, when full, are collected and the rubbish is disposed of at the final disposal site at the
landfill at Dompoase.
Dompoase is a well-engineered sanitary site where refuse is placed, compacted and covered at
the site. A weighbridge is present at the site. This is where the refuse is weighed and inspected
before being accepted into the landfill. Heavy-duty equipment are also available for spreading
of waste, compaction and covering.

Burning of waste by residents on their Unauthorized dumping site

premises.

Bin used at hostel Ayeduase skip and dumping site.

(secondary storage point)

42
WASTE GENERATION
Waste generations refers to those activities through which certain materials are produced or
indentified as having no value(hence waste) and are therefore disposed off.
Waste generation rate can be defined as the volume of waste produced per person per day.
The factors affecting rate of waste generation include;
 Seasonal or climatic changes
 Mode and frequency of collection
 Geographical location
 Public attitude
 Legislation

The types of waste mainly generated in the Ayeduase vicinity is municipal waste.

CURRENT TRENDS

 Average waste generation rate = 0.611kg/c/d.

 Current population = 4300
 Current waste generated = 4300 x 0.6
= 2627kg/day
 Design period = 20 years
2.3 20
 Design population ¿ 4300∗( 1+ )
100
¿ 6776.12
≈ 6800 (rounding off to the nearest hundred)
 Amount of waste generated in design period ¿ 6800 ×0.611
¿ 4154.8 kg/day
Based on the values above, it can be noted that the current number and size of skips available is
insufficient to serve the needs of the community currently and in the years to come.

43
MODE OF WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL

 The waste generated is placed in primary storage (bins, buckets and plastic bags).
 Primary collection occurs when the waste is transferred from the point of generation ie
homes and hostels to the main secondary storage point (skips).
 At the secondary storage point, the waste is scavenged by waste pickers for plastic
bottles and used rubber products eg water sachets.
 The skips are emptied when they become full. This is the secondary collection stage.
 Due to this, the transfer of the refuse to the final disposal site is not at all reliable and
often 2-3 times a week.
 The waste is transported to the Dompoase landfill site which is located at Oti. The
landfill is an engineered site. There are equipment present for the compaction and
covering of waste.
 The waste is transported to the landfill site by private companies such as ABC Service,
Zoomlion Ghana Limited as the KMA has outsourced its waste management program.

PROBLEMS

Based on the information gathered it was noted that the following problems exist:

44
  Inadequate skip capacity
 Lack of routine waste collection
 Poor management systems
 Bad odour and spread of diseases due to location of the secondary storage site at
westend hostel.
 Inadequate resources for the waste management institutions to effectively collect and
manage the generated waste
 Ignorance and insensitivity of the inhabitants due to lack of effective environmental
health education and service promotion strategy.
 Inappropriate design of communal containers.  The high reach of containers result in
waste being thrown on the ground particularly by children.

SOLUTION

 Provision of bins at vantage points in the community.

 Provision of bigger skips at collection sites.
 Provision of more skips to the sites.
 Education of the study area inhabitants on effective environmental health education

45
3. LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Wastewater is water containing waste components that impede the application of natural
functions of water.

TYPES OF WASTEWATER

 Black water (contains fecal matter)

 Grey water (from kitchens and bathrooms)
 Storm water
 Infiltration

SOURCES OF WASTEWATER

 Domestic sewage (grey water and black water waste)

 Industrial sewage (wastewater from factories)

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of the project were;

 Review the liquid waste system in operation in the Ayeduase vicinity in the environs of
the project area.
 Propose and design improved and appropriate liquid waste management
system(collection, treatment and disposal)

METHODOLOGY

The data was collected through the following method

 Research into the available reading material
 Interviews with the inhabitants of the study area in order to get their opinions.
 Inspection and observation of study area

46
  Consultation with relevant agencies.
 Questionnaires.

OBSERVATIONS

A large percentage of the houses in the study area practiced on-site treatment system and were
already equipped with septic tanks for the treatment of black water. This was also the case
found at the various hostels. The waste entered the septic tank via pipe connections from the
W.C in the buildings. The waste is then treated and discharged into the environment.
The main problem with wastewater management in the area was with the treatment of the
grey water (sullage). Some of the households collected the grey waste along with the black into
the septic tank for treatment. However a vast majority of the inhabitant in the area had no
system in place for the safe treatment and disposal of the grey wastewater.
For some of the households, the kitchen and bath wastewater is collected in buckets or basins
and is thrown into the street. In one of the low income households, it was observed that a hole
had been dug in the ground behind the bathroom. A bucket had been placed in the hole and
the grey water was channeled into the bucket using a piece of ‘water hose’. The waste water
was then collected in the bucket till it was full and then poured out onto the street.
Other households had also dug small channels in the earth through which their grey
wastewater was directed out of their homes and into the streets. Some of the middle income
houses had constructed shallow concrete drains (gutters) which channeled their grey water into
the streets and where they existed, into the main drains.
Most of the hostels in the vicinity channeled their grey waste into the existing drainage network
which empties out into the Wewe stream behind the Westend Hostel.

Rudimentary form of waste water

disposal where the bath water is
collected into a bucket placed in a
hole in the ground

47
 Image depicts the type of septic
tank treatment for black water
present in most homes

Channeling of gray waste out and

away from the house

PIC 4: pipe depositing grey water into the street. By it is a rudimentary

black water treatment system

PIC 5: Removal and depositing on wastewater into the street

48
ESTIMATION OF GREY WATER DEMAND

Since the area consists of two different groups of people namely middle income and low
income, the design is based on the middle income group due to the safety factor.
 Population = 4300
 Specific water consumption rate = 90 l/c/d
 Therefore water consumption = 4300 x 90
= 387000 l/d
 For a design period of 50 years.
50
 Design population ¿ Po (1+i )
¿ 4300 ¿
¿ 13404.5
≈ 13405.
 Water consumption = 13405 x 90
= 1206450 l/d
Wastewater is considered to be eighty percent (80%) of the volume of water consumption
hence
80
 Wastewater demand ¿ ×1206450
100
¿ 965160 l/d
However wastewater is made up of grey water and black water. Grey water takes up 50% to
80% of the wastewater.
Hence assuming a grey water percentage of 70%,
70
 Grey water demand ¿ ×965160
100
¿ 675612l/d
Therefore the amount of grey wastewater produced in the study area is approximately 675612
l/d i.e. 675.612m3/day.

PROBLEMS

 Lack of appropriate infrastructure for the management (collection, treatment and

disposal) of wastewater in the study area.
 Bad odour and spread of diseases
 Inadequate resources for the waste management institutions to effectively collect and
manage the generated waste
 Ignorance and insensitivity of the inhabitants due to lack of effective environmental
health education and service promotion strategy.

49
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

The design and construction of a sewer system will curb this problem and lead to better living
conditions in the community.
There are two main types of sewer systems :
 Open sewer system
 Closed/ underground sewer system

OPEN SEWER SYSTEM

It is anuncovered system of channels that picks up wastewater flows from individual

households and conveys them to a disposal/reuse point. Drains may be unlined but perform
better and are more easily maintained if lined with brick, mortar, or concrete. In addition to
wastewater, most open drainage systems carry storm water run-off although they may not be
designed to allow for peak run-off flows.

Advantages:

 Open drains are often the most common means of transporting wastewater in informal
urban areas. As such, they are well understood by the various stakeholders.
 They collect more silt and rubbish than sewers and covered drains but are much easier
to clean.
 Existing maintenance systems are geared towards cleaning open drains rather than
sewers.

Disadvantages:

 Open drains designed to carry wastewater invariably also carry storm water, which is
likely to cause problems for downstream treatment facilities.
 They may smell and the presence of the drain reduces the usable width of the street.
 Silting and frequent blockages with rubbish and construction debris are likely in
collector sewers and covered drains to which open drains connect.
 Children may play with the raw sewage.

Technical requirements:

 The drain should be large enough to carry the design flow, including at least moderate storm
water flows. However, it should not be too large. A common design fault is to provide large
drain sections, even on branches carrying little flow. Over-sized sections are likely to become
receptacles for rubbish and are more difficult to clean than smaller sections.

50
CLOSED SEWER SYSTEM
Sewers are closed conduits, usually circular in cross-section sections which carry wastewater
flowing by gravity. Sewerage refers to systems of sewers, and includes pump stations,
overflows and other associated infrastructure. Most sewers are designed to convey either
sewage or storm water but many are “combined sewers” and carry both, in practice if not in
theory. Some sewers, mainly in low-income areas with on-plot sanitation, have been designed
to carry only sullage and storm water. 

Advantages

 Sewerage is an attractive option for users because it removes problems from their
doorsteps, at least as long as it is operating satisfactorily.
 It deals with both fecal wastes and sullage water and can also be used to deal with
storm water.

Disadvantages

 There will usually be a need for treatment to protect the environment.

 Sewers in low-income areas often require high levels of maintenance, particularly in
areas where solid waste collection is deficient or non-existent.
 The cost of this system is high comparative to the other wastewater systems.

Technical requirements

The focus is on the technical requirements to reduce costs and improve operation

 Limit the sewer depth where possible. Do this by routing sewers through gardens and
yards, beneath sidewalks and/or in narrow lanes, thus avoiding heavy traffic.
 For shallow sewers, use small inspection chambers rather than large manholes. The
purpose of manholes and chambers is to gain access to the sewer and this can be done
from ground level if the sewer depth is less than about 1,25 meters). Provide benching
up to the crown level of the pipe in manholes and chambers.
 Use appropriate locally available materials. Spun concrete pipes can be appropriate in
some circumstances but may suffer corrosion if there are blockages and/or insufficient
slope to prevent hydrogen sulfide generation.
 Pay particular attention to the design of manhole covers and ensure that covers can be
replaced if they break, in order to minimize entry of garbage and silt to the sewer.

51
COLLECTION AND TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER AT AYEDUASE
After analysis of the methods of waste collection, the method using the open drain system was
considered to be the best option for the collection of the wastewater in the Ayeduase
community.

The gray water from the households and hostels will be channeled into the drains through
shallow drains and pipes from the kitchens and bathrooms. The wastewater will then undergo
on-site filtering via screening at the entry point into the drain.

The water then flows by gravity and is eventually deposited in a septic tank located at the
downstream end. The downstream end is located behind the Westend Hostel. The waste is
treated in the septic tank and the sludge is pumped out on a regular basis.

The sludge is then transported to the Dompoase sewage waste management site for treatment.

SEPTIC TANKS

A typical septic tank has a volume of 750-1500 gallons. It is usually constructed of concrete,
steel, or fiberglass. Septic tanks are watertight chambers that promote the growth of anaerobic
bacteria for the biological decomposition of sewage and the separation of grease and organic
particles from the wastewater. They are cited for a minimum detention period of twenty-four
hours and are constructed with a pair of baffles or sanitary tees to prevent the flow-through of
floating solids, to minimize the raw sewage from leaving the tank and from disturbing the
settled sludge and floating scum.
Septic tanks are made with two top openings: one for each chamber. They are located so as to
permit access to the tank inlet and outlet chambers.
Septic tanks are designed to handle all the normal, daily (24 hour) effluent flow that a
household or commercial enterprise can produce. A commercial establishment is rated on its
generated peak effluent load as determined by waste-producing fixtures or an actual flow of
the prototype establishment. In a home, the design allows for the inclusion of laundry and the
(not recommended) garbage grinder wastes. Roof and footing drainage, garage drains, and
water softener waste must not be drained into the septic system.
Although minimum capacities for septic tanks have been established, larger units have many
advantages. Longer detention times, (due to the larger capacity), permit better separation and
less carry-over of scum and sludge and tend to prolong the life of the subsurface disposal leach
lines, leach beds, or seepage pits. Larger tanks require less frequent cleaning, are slightly more
expensive and allow for future expansion of the home (i.e. additional bedrooms or waste
discharge fixtures). They provide a good, cost benefit return particularly if accomplished during
the initial installation. If the septic tank is upsized, the corresponding size of the leachfield must
also be increased. The total septic tank process then produces an effluent that can be leached
into most soils without clogging.

52
53
 STRUCTURES

1. METHODOLOGY
The data was collected through the following method

 Desk study
 Reconnaissance study
 Research into the available reading material
 Inspection and observation of study area
 Consultation with relevant agencies.

2. LOCATION
Through research, survey of the topography of the land and assessment of relevant maps, it
was decided that the best location for the tank to be placed was at a site located about 50m
from Elite College. The site was chosen because it is the highest point in the study area with an
elevation of 275m. The water tank is to distribute water to the various homes by flow of
gravity.

3. MATERIAL FOR ELEVATED TANK

Two options that seem suitable for the design and construction of the elevated tank are
 Braithwaite steel
 Glass reinforced plastic

54
COMPARISM BETWEEN THE SUGGESTED MATERIALS

BRAITHWAITE STEEL GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC

1. Excellent flexibility to adapt as 1. Retards growth of algae and
storage requirements change. fungi
2. Ability to be installed in areas 2. Excellent quality of stored
with restricted access. water.
3. Infinite range of sizes and 3. Very low maintenance.
configuration s. 4. Long service life.
4. Quick and easy assembly using 5. Low dead weight thereby
hand tools. saving on foundation cost.
5. Highly economical 6. Good resistance to most
transportation. chemicals.
6. Long term life expectancy.
7. Inherent strength and durability
of the raw material

After comparing the two materials, it was decided that braithwaite would be the better option
based on its properties.

4. UNDERGROUND TANK
The underground storage tank is to be constructed of reinforced concrete.
It is to hold a capacity of 5520m3/day .

55
56