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Research article2014Peer reviewedOpen access

Experiences on the implementation of a pilot grey water treatment and reuse based system at a household in the slum of Kyebando-Kisalosalo, Kampala

Niwagaba, Charles; Dinno, Patrick; Wamala, Isaac; Dalahmeh, Sahar Saleim Saleh; Lalander, Cecilia; Jönsson, Håkan

Abstract

Grey water constitutes the largest fraction of domestic wastewater. It causes environmental sanitation and pollution problems if it is not managed well. If treated, grey water can be a resource for a variety of uses. A pilot system was constructed in February 2013 to treat grey water from a four-member household for sub-surface irrigation of local vegetables. A hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 60 L m(-2)d(-1) and an organic loading rate (OLR) of 519-1,580 g BOD(5)m(-2)d(-1) were implemented on a multi-media filter of gravel, charcoal, geotextile and mulch (charcoal being the predominant layer) operated as a batched type-system, with a 36-hour retention time. The system was operated for 3 months, during which it showed remarkable removal efficiencies of 90.8 +/- 5.4 and 96.1 +/- 3.0% after 36 hours for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), respectively, and 95 +/- 3.1% for faecal coliforms (FC). The removal efficiencies at 36 hours, of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (Tot-P), total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were 39.0, 30.1, 85.2 and 78.6%, respectively. Plant response to sub-surface irrigation with treated grey water was largely masked by rainy season and the effluent had a limited effect on the soil.

Keywords

grey water; household; reuse; sub-surface irrigation; treatment

Published in

Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination
2014, Volume: 4, number: 4, pages: 294-307
Publisher: IWA PUBLISHING

        SLU Authors

          • Sustainable Development Goals

          SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
          SDG11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
          SDG3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

          UKÄ Subject classification

          Building Technologies
          Water Engineering
          Infrastructure Engineering

          Publication identifier

          DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/wrd.2014.016

          Permanent link to this page (URI)

          https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66313