TY - JOUR
T1 - Grey water characterisation and pollutant loads in an urban slum
AU - Katukiza, A. Y.
AU - Ronteltap, M.
AU - Niwagaba, C. B.
AU - Kansiime, F.
AU - Lens, P. N.L.
PY - 2014/2
Y1 - 2014/2
N2 - On-site sanitation provisions in urban slums rarely prioritise grey water management, yet it forms the largest fraction of wastewater. This study was carried out to characterise grey water and quantify its pollutant loads in Bwaise III (Uganda) and to provide data for grey water management in urban slums of developing countries. Samples were collected for analysis from ten representative households as well as from four tertiary drains and the main drainage channel for 7 months in two dry seasons. Grey water production was found to comprise 85 % of the domestic water consumption. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration in the grey water generated by laundry, in the kitchen and in the bathroom was 9,225 ± 1,200 mg L−1, 71,250 ± 1,011 mg L−1 and 4,675 ± 750 mg L−1, while the BOD5 (biochemical oxygen demand) to COD ratio was 0.24 ± 0.05, 0.33 ± 0.08 and 0.31 ± 0.07, respectively. The maximum concentration of Escherichia coli and total coliforms was 2.05 × 107 cfu (100 mL)−1 and 1.75 × 108 cfu (100 mL)−1, respectively, in grey water from the bathroom, while that of Salmonella spp. was 7.32 × 106 cfu (100 mL)−1 from laundry. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference in the concentration of COD, total suspended solids (TSS), total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total phosphorus (TP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), oil and grease, and Salmonella spp. in grey water from laundry, bathroom and kitchen (p < 0.05). The high loads of COD (>500 kg day−1), TSS (>200 kg day−1), nutrients (8.3 kg TKN day−1 and 1.4 kg TP day−1) and microorganisms (106 to 109 cfu c−1day−1) originating from grey water in Bwaise III show that grey water poses a threat to the environment and a risk to human health in urban slums. Therefore, there is a need to prioritise grey water treatment in urban slums of developing countries to achieve adequate sanitation.
AB - On-site sanitation provisions in urban slums rarely prioritise grey water management, yet it forms the largest fraction of wastewater. This study was carried out to characterise grey water and quantify its pollutant loads in Bwaise III (Uganda) and to provide data for grey water management in urban slums of developing countries. Samples were collected for analysis from ten representative households as well as from four tertiary drains and the main drainage channel for 7 months in two dry seasons. Grey water production was found to comprise 85 % of the domestic water consumption. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration in the grey water generated by laundry, in the kitchen and in the bathroom was 9,225 ± 1,200 mg L−1, 71,250 ± 1,011 mg L−1 and 4,675 ± 750 mg L−1, while the BOD5 (biochemical oxygen demand) to COD ratio was 0.24 ± 0.05, 0.33 ± 0.08 and 0.31 ± 0.07, respectively. The maximum concentration of Escherichia coli and total coliforms was 2.05 × 107 cfu (100 mL)−1 and 1.75 × 108 cfu (100 mL)−1, respectively, in grey water from the bathroom, while that of Salmonella spp. was 7.32 × 106 cfu (100 mL)−1 from laundry. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference in the concentration of COD, total suspended solids (TSS), total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total phosphorus (TP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), oil and grease, and Salmonella spp. in grey water from laundry, bathroom and kitchen (p < 0.05). The high loads of COD (>500 kg day−1), TSS (>200 kg day−1), nutrients (8.3 kg TKN day−1 and 1.4 kg TP day−1) and microorganisms (106 to 109 cfu c−1day−1) originating from grey water in Bwaise III show that grey water poses a threat to the environment and a risk to human health in urban slums. Therefore, there is a need to prioritise grey water treatment in urban slums of developing countries to achieve adequate sanitation.
KW - Environmental pollution
KW - Grey water
KW - Sanitation
KW - Slums
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920533599&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s13762-013-0451-5
DO - 10.1007/s13762-013-0451-5
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84920533599
SN - 1735-1472
VL - 12
SP - 423
EP - 436
JO - International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
JF - International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
IS - 2
ER -