Performance Evaluation of Commercial Package Systems Used in Kuwait for on-Site Treatment and Reuse of Domestic Wastewater

Abstract

Kuwait’s wastewater management scheme consists of a huge centralized sewerage system that transports all wastewater generated for treatment at central municipal plants for wastewater treatment. However, there are a few remote sites that are still not connected to the public sewerage system. In such sites, on-site systems such as conventional septic tank or package systems are commonly used. This study assessed the performance of two package systems used in Kuwait for on-site wastewater treatment and reuse. Wastewater samples were collected weekly for five months from influent and effluent streams of two package systems located at Ahmedi and Kadhmah areas of Kuwait. Comparison of the means of the laboratory results to the guidelines of Kuwait Public Authority for Environment (KEPA) indicated that the effluents of the two systems are suitable to be reused as irrigation water. However, results obtained also showed that performances of both units were highly fluctuating.