Evaluation of the physicochemical qualities and heavy metal regimes of the final effluents of some wastewater treatment facilties in Berlin, Alice and Bedford communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Agoro, Mojeed Adedoyin
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5003 , vital:28924
- Description: Wastewater treatment facilities have been identified as potential source of surface water pollution worldwide. In this study, the physicochemical qualities and heavy metal (including Zinc, Cadmium, Iron, Lead and Copper) concentrations in the final effluents, as well as the reduction efficiencies of three municipal wastewater plants in the Eastern Cape, South Africa were evaluated from September 2015 to February 2016 using standard methods. Wastewater effluent and sludge samples were collected from the selected plants on monthly basis over a period of six months from September 2015 to February 2016. Standard analytical method (Atomic absorption spectroscopy [AAS]) was used to assess the concentration levels of heavy metals. The physicochemical parameters assessed include pH, Temperature, Total Dissolved Solid, Turbidity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Alkalinity, Dissolved Oxygen, Free chlorine, Chloride, Sulphate, Phosphate, Ammonium and Electrical Conductivity. The results of the evaluation showed that temperature ranges from 19 to 36 °C, Electrical Conductivity from 60-1095 mS/m, Alkalinity from 2.6-20.9 mg/L, Nitrate from 0.24-26.5 mg/L, Nitrite from 0.01-90 mg/L, Phosphate from 0.02-5.12 mg/L, Ammonium from 0.06-112 mg/L, Sulphate from 3-72 mg/L, Chloride from 3.25-224 mg/L, Chemical Oxygen Demand from 17-394 mg/L and Turbidity from 1.96-715 NTU. Free chlorine concentrations and dissolved oxygen were within the recommended limits for most part of the sampling period and ranged between 0.17-0.48 mg/L and 0.19-21.9 mg/L respectively. The pH, Phosphate, Sulphate and Free chlorine were within acceptable limits while Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, Total Dissolved Solid, Turbidity, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Chloride, Ammonium, Nitrate and Nitrite were not within specified limits. The reduction efficiencies observed generally ranged between 43.9 and 100 percent at all sampling points while zinc and lead were not detected throughout the sampling period. Cadmium showed low reduction rate ranging from 0 to 11.7 percent, while the rate of Copper reduction ranged from 0 to25 percent in January and February 2016. Zinc, lead and cadmium were generally not detected in the sludge samples except in January and February which could be due to the prevailing atmospheric conditions during the sampling period. Cu and Fe were detected through the sampling months of the study. We conclude that these municipal sewage plants are sources of pollution to their receiving watersheds and threats to public and environmental health.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Agoro, Mojeed Adedoyin
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5003 , vital:28924
- Description: Wastewater treatment facilities have been identified as potential source of surface water pollution worldwide. In this study, the physicochemical qualities and heavy metal (including Zinc, Cadmium, Iron, Lead and Copper) concentrations in the final effluents, as well as the reduction efficiencies of three municipal wastewater plants in the Eastern Cape, South Africa were evaluated from September 2015 to February 2016 using standard methods. Wastewater effluent and sludge samples were collected from the selected plants on monthly basis over a period of six months from September 2015 to February 2016. Standard analytical method (Atomic absorption spectroscopy [AAS]) was used to assess the concentration levels of heavy metals. The physicochemical parameters assessed include pH, Temperature, Total Dissolved Solid, Turbidity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Alkalinity, Dissolved Oxygen, Free chlorine, Chloride, Sulphate, Phosphate, Ammonium and Electrical Conductivity. The results of the evaluation showed that temperature ranges from 19 to 36 °C, Electrical Conductivity from 60-1095 mS/m, Alkalinity from 2.6-20.9 mg/L, Nitrate from 0.24-26.5 mg/L, Nitrite from 0.01-90 mg/L, Phosphate from 0.02-5.12 mg/L, Ammonium from 0.06-112 mg/L, Sulphate from 3-72 mg/L, Chloride from 3.25-224 mg/L, Chemical Oxygen Demand from 17-394 mg/L and Turbidity from 1.96-715 NTU. Free chlorine concentrations and dissolved oxygen were within the recommended limits for most part of the sampling period and ranged between 0.17-0.48 mg/L and 0.19-21.9 mg/L respectively. The pH, Phosphate, Sulphate and Free chlorine were within acceptable limits while Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, Total Dissolved Solid, Turbidity, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Chloride, Ammonium, Nitrate and Nitrite were not within specified limits. The reduction efficiencies observed generally ranged between 43.9 and 100 percent at all sampling points while zinc and lead were not detected throughout the sampling period. Cadmium showed low reduction rate ranging from 0 to 11.7 percent, while the rate of Copper reduction ranged from 0 to25 percent in January and February 2016. Zinc, lead and cadmium were generally not detected in the sludge samples except in January and February which could be due to the prevailing atmospheric conditions during the sampling period. Cu and Fe were detected through the sampling months of the study. We conclude that these municipal sewage plants are sources of pollution to their receiving watersheds and threats to public and environmental health.
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Physiochemical and heavy metals fingerprints of the final effluents of Adelaide and Seymour wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mutukwa, Dorcas
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Water -- Purification Effluent quality -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8089 , vital:31520
- Description: Wastewater contains pathogens, heavy metals, nutrients, organic matter and other toxic chemicals and when discharged into the environment without proper treatment, it may cause adverse health problems and environment degradation. There have been reports in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa of inadequate treated wastewater effluents being discharged into freshwater environments. This study reports on the physicochemical and heavy metals qualities for two wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa over a six-month sampling period (September 2015 to February 2016). Wastewater effluent samples were collected from the influents, final effluents and receiving waterbodies as well as sludge samples in replicates. The physicochemical parameters were analysed using standard methods (APHA, 2012). The acid digested heavy metals samples were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3500 Thermo Fisher Spectrometer). The concentrations were compared to recommended limits used in South Africa and World Health Organisation (WHO). Physicochemical qualities assessed at Adelaide wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: temperature (21.6 - 30.5 oC), turbidity (2.1 – 71.3 NTU), electrical conductivity (EC) (743.0 – 898.3 μ/Scm) and dissolved oxygen (DO) (2.11 – 3.50 mg/L) while the ranges of the parameter assessed at Seymour wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: chemical dissolved oxygen (COD) (41.7 – 115.3 mg/L), EC (628 and 797.7 μ/Scm) and nitrates (4.6 – 11.0 mg/L. The heavy metals concentration for the final effluents at Adelaide wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: Cd (0 – 0.002 mg/L), Cu (0 – 0.096 mg/L) and Fe (0 – 0.498 mg/L). Cu concentrations in sludge at Seymour wastewater treatment plant ranged between 83.82 and 132.07 mg/L. Reduction efficiencies of Adelaide in removing chlorides and sulphates were 33 and 36 percent respectively. Findings of study revealed negative impacts of inadequately treated effluents on receiving waterbodies and this puts communities which rely on the water as immediate source of fresh water for domestic purposes at health risk.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mutukwa, Dorcas
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Water -- Purification Effluent quality -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8089 , vital:31520
- Description: Wastewater contains pathogens, heavy metals, nutrients, organic matter and other toxic chemicals and when discharged into the environment without proper treatment, it may cause adverse health problems and environment degradation. There have been reports in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa of inadequate treated wastewater effluents being discharged into freshwater environments. This study reports on the physicochemical and heavy metals qualities for two wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa over a six-month sampling period (September 2015 to February 2016). Wastewater effluent samples were collected from the influents, final effluents and receiving waterbodies as well as sludge samples in replicates. The physicochemical parameters were analysed using standard methods (APHA, 2012). The acid digested heavy metals samples were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3500 Thermo Fisher Spectrometer). The concentrations were compared to recommended limits used in South Africa and World Health Organisation (WHO). Physicochemical qualities assessed at Adelaide wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: temperature (21.6 - 30.5 oC), turbidity (2.1 – 71.3 NTU), electrical conductivity (EC) (743.0 – 898.3 μ/Scm) and dissolved oxygen (DO) (2.11 – 3.50 mg/L) while the ranges of the parameter assessed at Seymour wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: chemical dissolved oxygen (COD) (41.7 – 115.3 mg/L), EC (628 and 797.7 μ/Scm) and nitrates (4.6 – 11.0 mg/L. The heavy metals concentration for the final effluents at Adelaide wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: Cd (0 – 0.002 mg/L), Cu (0 – 0.096 mg/L) and Fe (0 – 0.498 mg/L). Cu concentrations in sludge at Seymour wastewater treatment plant ranged between 83.82 and 132.07 mg/L. Reduction efficiencies of Adelaide in removing chlorides and sulphates were 33 and 36 percent respectively. Findings of study revealed negative impacts of inadequately treated effluents on receiving waterbodies and this puts communities which rely on the water as immediate source of fresh water for domestic purposes at health risk.
- Full Text:
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