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Abstract
Constructed wetlands are cost-effective wastewater treatment alternatives that receive worldwide acceptance. For the Kenyan hospitality industry, in particular, constructed wetlands (CWs) provide opportunities for wastewater reuse and recovery of resources, as well as improvements in local environmental conditions. Hospitality establishments produce large volumes of wastewater that is sometimes discharged to the environment without being treated. This is not only harmful to communities living downstream of these rivers but also to the flora and fauna which are the main attraction for most who visit these lodges. This study used qualitative methods to collect and analyze published official government documents, peer-reviewed research articles, and professional reports including leading international and Kenyan case studies to explore how constructed wetlands can be effectively used in game lodges and resorts situated in arid and remote areas of Kenya. The study investigated wastewater management systems adopted by remote game lodges and resorts in Kenya and the potential role, as well as the challenges to adopting constructed wetland (CW) technology. The results indicated that hotels, game lodges, and resorts both internationally and locally are adopting different types of CWs including surface and subsurface flow as alternative nature-oriented wastewater management systems. The study identified opportunities in the use of CWs as a wastewater management and conservation strategy. The results suggest that there are potential challenges which include inadequate expertise and technical support; low volume of discharge during off-seasons; limited space or land; and the attitude of hospitality managers towards constructed wetlands. Based on these preliminary findings, one may conclude that game lodges, ecolodges, and resorts in remote areas are prime candidates for constructed wetland establishment. The study makes specific recommendations with implications for policy and practice to promote sustainable hospitality operations and environmental conservation. It is suggested that future studies test the efficacy and efficiency of CW technology as wastewater management systems in the Kenyan wilderness areas including national parks, game reserves, and forests.
Highlights
In many developing countries including Kenya, inadequate, uncoordinated policies and measures on waste and wastewater management coupled with weak legislation, inadequate standards, and lack of monitoring and regulations have led to ineffective wastewater treatment [1]
Conclusions and Recommendations is study was undertaken to explore the potential use and challenges of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and environmental conservation in game lodges and resorts in hospitality and tourism industries in Kenya. e study uncovers that constructed wetlands are a viable environmentally-friendly natural wastewater management technology. e existing evidence suggests that constructed wetland technology can reduce contaminant load by an average of 75%, 86%, and 78.5% for total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), respectively
(1) ere is a need to explore the use of constructed wetlands (CWs) for wastewater management in the game lodges, ecolodges, and resorts located within the wilderness areas, national parks, games reserves, and forests
Summary
In many developing countries including Kenya, inadequate, uncoordinated policies and measures on waste and wastewater management coupled with weak legislation, inadequate standards, and lack of monitoring and regulations have led to ineffective wastewater treatment [1]. Sanitation in rural areas, especially in developing countries such as Kenya, is characterized by inadequate investments for centralized water supply systems that are often unaffordable given the remote locations and lack of financial resources [6], for instance, the arid remote areas in which the Kenyan game lodges are situated area of great natural and economic value, which are visited by a considerable number of tourists each year. Most hotels in these regions are not treating wastewater correctly but are using soak-away pits leading to contamination of ground water and rivers (https://youtu-be/ D3phkRaHZ-Q). Popular wastewater sources include showers, baths, wash-up cups, and wash-ups, including kitchen sinks and automatic wash-ups with high organic material levels which promote bacterial growth
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