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.
Highlights
One of the major challenges faced by the developing countries is that of human waste management and disposal
The onsite sanitation system is subdivided into three major types: flush and discharge, ecological (EcoSan toilets) and the traditional drop and store
The study carried out tests on influents and effluents of experiential setups of layered charcoal and saw dust purifying materials for E. coli or fecal coliforms, Chemical oxygen demand [Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)] and Biological oxygen demand [BOD] parameters
Summary
One of the major challenges faced by the developing countries is that of human waste management and disposal. (2015) Elimination of Pollution of Groundwater by On-Site Sanitation Systems. Human faeces are dangerous to health and detrimental to the environment if not purified or untreated before being disposed into the environment. A WHO Study Group defined sanitation as “the means of collecting and disposing of excreta and community liquid wastes in a hygienic way so as not to endanger the health of individuals and the community as a whole” [2]. Hygienic disposal of human wastes that does not endanger health should be the underlying objective of all sanitation programmes [3]
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