Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the treatment potential of gradual hydroponics planted with Duranta erecta in the removal of pathogens from domestic wastewater. Two experimental and control units were configured in series. Each unit contains three bioreactors and was arranged in a cascaded configuration. The two experimental units used both plant and media, but the two control units used only media to treat the wastewater. Gravel and polyester sponge were used as media. Experimental unit 1 and control unit 1 used gravel as media; however, experimental unit 2 and control unit 2 used polyester sponges as media. The experiment was operated at hydraulic retention times of 1, 3, 5, and 7 days in a continuous mode. The performance of the hydroponic system was evaluated by characterizing the influent and effluent quality using standard methods. At optimum hydraulic retention time (7 days), the average removal of experimental units 1 and 2 was 98.7% and 89.8% for heterotrophic bacteria, 96.2% and 86.8% for total coliform, and 92.9% and 84.0% for fecal coliform, respectively. Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two experimental and control units in removing pathogens, but no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between the two experimental units and between the two control units. Heterotrophic bacteria and coliforms were satisfactorily removed from domestic wastewater via a gradual hydroponic system. Hence, the hydroponic treatment system planted with Duranta erecta has a promising potential in the removal of pathogens from domestic wastewater in developing countries including Ethiopia.
Highlights
Domestic wastewater disposal has become a serious problem in urban areas of developing countries [1]
It is noted that no other study has been carried out regarding the use of Duranta erecta in hydroponic wastewater treatment technology for the removal of pathogens. erefore, this study aimed to evaluate the treatment potential of gradual hydroponics planted with Duranta erecta in the removal of pathogens from domestic wastewater. e technology needs further researches to be utilized as an alternative decentralized wastewater treatment mechanism for developing countries including Ethiopia
Cholera, typhoid, fever, and diarrhea are some of the potential health risks, which might be caused by these pathogenic microorganisms in untreated or poorly treated domestic wastewater including the case of this study [44,45,46]. erefore, treating such wastewater types containing pathogenic microorganisms before discharge into the environment is mandatory
Summary
Domestic wastewater disposal has become a serious problem in urban areas of developing countries [1]. Because of an increasing population, urban farming, industrial expansion, and lack of sufficient sewage treatment, the city of Addis Ababa is suffering from serious surface water pollution [9,10,11,12]. E wastewater generated from the Kilinto Prison camp, which is one of the federal prisons located on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, is being directly discharged into a small river called the Fanta River. At the time of this study, 264 m3/d of Journal of Environmental and Public Health untreated effluent is being discharged to the Fanta River, which is located upstream of Big Akaki River. E Fanta River is contaminated by untreated wastewater discharges and runoff from residential settlements in its upstream catchment. Indicator organisms (coliforms) were used to detect the presence of pathogens [20,21,22]
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