Abstract
Most developing countries use existing knowledge and infrastructure for wastewater in the treatment, reuse and disposal of faecal sludge. There is need to have a clear picture of the risk faecal sludge poses in relation to wastewater if effective treatment, disposal and reuse systems are to be implemented. Little work has been done to quantify the risk faecal sludge poses in relation to wastewater in a localized setting. This study quantifies the comparative risk of faecal sludge from pit latrines in unplanned settlements in Mzuzu City and wastewater. A total 80 sludge samples were obtained from 20 pit latrines in five unplanned settlement Laboratory characterisation was performed for Organics (chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand), nutrients (total ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus) and pathogens (Escherichia coli and helminth eggs) were determined through laboratory analyses. Documentation review was used to get wastewater characteristics. The study found a higher risk (comparative risk >1; p < 0.0001) for organics and nutrients in pit latrine sludge as compared to wastewater. Pit latrine sludge was found not to pose significantly higher public health risk from both E. coli (comparative risk <1; p < 0.0001) and helminth eggs (comparative risk < 1; p < 0.165) than relation to wastewater. Key words: Faecal sludge, environmental risk, public health risk, faecal sludge treatment.
Highlights
While these studies can give a crude indication of the global comparative risk between faecal sludge and wastewater, limited work has been done for localized settings
Environmental risk was considered in terms of organics and nutrients
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels in sludge samples from the 20 latrines and wastewater are presented in Figures 3 and 4, respectively
Summary
Little information is available in the existing body of knowledge for comparison (both directly and implicitly) of risks in faecal sludge and wastewater (Doku, 2002; Koné and Strauss, 2004; Bassan et al, 2013; Strande et al, 2014). While these studies can give a crude indication of the global comparative risk between faecal sludge and wastewater, limited work has been done for localized settings. An understanding of the risk arising from treating, disposing and reuse of faecal sludge, important, in ensuring sustainability of the environment and water resources (SDG 6) and public health (SDG 3)
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