Elimination of Pollution of Groundwater by On-Site Sanitation Systems
ABSTRACT
About half the population in developing countries lack safe excreta disposal facilities. Improper wastewater disposal contaminates groundwater resulting in spread of water related diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery. This research experimentally tested the applicability of charcoal and saw dust packed membranes as sewage purifiers for on-site sanitation systems like, septic tanks, cesspool, pit latrines, pour-flush pit excreta systems. Tests for E. coli, COD and BOD of the influent which was raw sewerage from sewers and effluent from layered saw dust and charcoal purifying materials experimental setup were separately carried out. The layers were varied from 150 mm, 200 mm and 300 mm with 150 mm layers of gravel in between. The experimental tests showed that 300 mm charcoal layers with a 150 mm gravel middle layer, reduced E. coli from 4800×1014 CFU/100ml to 1.08×104 CFU/100ml, BOD5 from 698 mg/l to 0.5 mg/l, COD from 1492 mg/l to 3.0 mg/l against environmental standards of 1.0×104 CFU/100ml, 50 mg/l, and 100 mg/l respectively and its efficiency is directly proportional to thickness of charcoal dust layers. In conclusion, introducing a lined purification chamber with layers of charcoal dust between the on-site sanitation system and soak pit will eliminate the pollution of ground water.
About half the population in developing countries lack safe excreta disposal facilities. Improper wastewater disposal contaminates groundwater resulting in spread of water related diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery. This research experimentally tested the applicability of charcoal and saw dust packed membranes as sewage purifiers for on-site sanitation systems like, septic tanks, cesspool, pit latrines, pour-flush pit excreta systems. Tests for E. coli, COD and BOD of the influent which was raw sewerage from sewers and effluent from layered saw dust and charcoal purifying materials experimental setup were separately carried out. The layers were varied from 150 mm, 200 mm and 300 mm with 150 mm layers of gravel in between. The experimental tests showed that 300 mm charcoal layers with a 150 mm gravel middle layer, reduced E. coli from 4800×1014 CFU/100ml to 1.08×104 CFU/100ml, BOD5 from 698 mg/l to 0.5 mg/l, COD from 1492 mg/l to 3.0 mg/l against environmental standards of 1.0×104 CFU/100ml, 50 mg/l, and 100 mg/l respectively and its efficiency is directly proportional to thickness of charcoal dust layers. In conclusion, introducing a lined purification chamber with layers of charcoal dust between the on-site sanitation system and soak pit will eliminate the pollution of ground water.
Cite this paper
Kyakula, M. , Okiror, S. and Kawesa, P. (2015) Elimination of Pollution of Groundwater by On-Site Sanitation Systems. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 1449-1456. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.717118.
Kyakula, M. , Okiror, S. and Kawesa, P. (2015) Elimination of Pollution of Groundwater by On-Site Sanitation Systems. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 1449-1456. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.717118.
References
[1] World Health Organization (WHO) (1996) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. 2nd Edition, Health and Supporting Criteria, Vol. 2, Geneva. [2] World Health Organization (WHO) (1987) Technology for Water Supply and Sanitation in Developing Countries. Geneva. [3] Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992) A Guide to Development of Onsite Sanitation. World Health Organization, Geneva. [4] Lewis, J.W., Foster, S.D. and Draser, B.S. (1980) The Risk of Groundwater Pollution by On-Site Sanitation in Developing Countries, a Literature Review. International Reference Centre for Wastes Disposal (IRCWD) Report No. 01/82, Duebendorf. [5] DWAF (1996) South African Water Quality Guidelines. 2nd Edition, Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria. [6] Tsai, Y.-L., Sobsey, M.D., Sangermano, L.R. and Palmer, C.J. (1993) Simple Method of Concentrating Enteroviruses and Hepatitis A Virus from Sewage and Ocean Water for Rapid Detection by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 59, 3488-3491. [7] Rompré, A., Servais, P., Baudart, J., de-Roubin, M. and Laurent, P. (2002) Detection and Enumeration of Coliforms in Drinking Water: Current Methods and Emerging Approaches. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 49, 31-54. [8] The National Environment Regulations (Uganda) (1999) Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water or Wetland. Statutory Instrument Supplement No. 5. [9] Simon, O. (2013) Assessing Charcoal Dust and Saw Dust as Sewage Purifiers. Final Year Research Project for Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Building Engineering, Kyambogo University, Kampala.
[1] World Health Organization (WHO) (1996) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. 2nd Edition, Health and Supporting Criteria, Vol. 2, Geneva. [2] World Health Organization (WHO) (1987) Technology for Water Supply and Sanitation in Developing Countries. Geneva. [3] Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992) A Guide to Development of Onsite Sanitation. World Health Organization, Geneva. [4] Lewis, J.W., Foster, S.D. and Draser, B.S. (1980) The Risk of Groundwater Pollution by On-Site Sanitation in Developing Countries, a Literature Review. International Reference Centre for Wastes Disposal (IRCWD) Report No. 01/82, Duebendorf. [5] DWAF (1996) South African Water Quality Guidelines. 2nd Edition, Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria. [6] Tsai, Y.-L., Sobsey, M.D., Sangermano, L.R. and Palmer, C.J. (1993) Simple Method of Concentrating Enteroviruses and Hepatitis A Virus from Sewage and Ocean Water for Rapid Detection by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 59, 3488-3491. [7] Rompré, A., Servais, P., Baudart, J., de-Roubin, M. and Laurent, P. (2002) Detection and Enumeration of Coliforms in Drinking Water: Current Methods and Emerging Approaches. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 49, 31-54. [8] The National Environment Regulations (Uganda) (1999) Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water or Wetland. Statutory Instrument Supplement No. 5. [9] Simon, O. (2013) Assessing Charcoal Dust and Saw Dust as Sewage Purifiers. Final Year Research Project for Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Building Engineering, Kyambogo University, Kampala.