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Article

Open Access

The Potential of Subsurface Infiltration for the Treatment of Biofil Toilet Technology Effluent

Author(s)

Peter Owusu-Antwi, Richard Buamah, Helen Essandoh, Adane Sewhunegn Molla, Esi Awuah, Kweku Akuam Anno

Full-Text PDF Download XML 3183 Views

DOI:10.17265/2328-2185/2015.1112.003

Affiliation(s)

Peter Owusu-Antwi, Ph.D. fellow, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Richard Buamah, Ph.D., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Helen Essandoh, Ph.D., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Adane Sewhunegn Molla, M.Sc., Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Esi Awuah, Ph.D., professor, University of Energy & Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana.
Kweku Akuam Anno, B.Sc., Biological Filters & Composters Limited (BIOFILCOM), Sunyani, Ghana.

ABSTRACT

Generally discharges from on-site sanitation (OSS) system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effluent from a novel on-site vermi-biofiltration system called the Biofil Toilet Technology (BTT). In practice, the BTT effluent is discharged via sub-surface infiltration. The focus of the research was to determine possible contaminant removal within the first 1.5 m depth of soil column. To achieve this objective, laboratory scale soil columns were designed and constructed for the treatment of secondary domestic wastewater from the BTT. Four different soil columns, each with 1.5 m depth of soil (sandy soil—SS, loamy soil—LS, clayey soil—CS, and red laterite soil—RLS) and fifth column with 0.45 m multi-layer sand filter were constructed and characterized. The columns were fed with the BTT effluent and sampled at ports spaced at 0.3 m, 0.8 m, and 1.5 m depths. Using the samples, parameters like COD, BOD5, TSS, T-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, and pathogenic indicator microbes were monitored. RLS and SS columns efficiently removed COD, BOD5, and TSS from the BTT effluent below the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (GH EPA) guideline values. Up to 99% COD removal were observed in RLS column. A two to five log pathogen removal was recorded for the soil columns. The RLS and SS were found to have a high efficacy for contaminant removal with up to 80% of all contaminants being removed at a depth of 0.3 m along the soil columns. Thus the subsurface infiltration system can serve as a promising technology for the BTT effluent treatment. The study recommends the incorporation of infiltration systems to the BTT especially for areas with high water table or clayey soils.

KEYWORDS

Biofil, on-site, blackwater, infiltration, vermicomposting, toilet, soil, eudrilus euginae

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