Human intestinal parasitism,potable water availability and methods of sewage disposal among nomadic Fulanis in Kuraje rural settlement of Zamfara state

Objective:To ascertain the level of intestinal parasites vis-a-vis the quality of housing and water supply,and sanitary conditions among the people of Kuraje village in Zamfara state. Methods:The study was cross sectional in nature.Individual households were selected using systematic random sampling methods and pre-tested questionnaires were administered to all the members of each household.Stool samples were collected and processed using standard laboratory procedures.Housing conditions,sources of water and sanitary conditions of the households were also inspected.Results were analysed using Epi Info 2006 model.Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 67.0%(347/519).72.3%(251/347),17.0%(59/347),and 10.7%(37/347) had one,two and three or more parasites,respectively.The associated factors with intestinal parasites were poor housing and sanitary conditions,lack of potable water and illiteracy.The commonest parasites encountered were hookworm(22.0%),Ascaris lumbricoides (18.5%),and Strongyloides stercoralis(15.6%) while the least common was Enterobius vermicularis (1.6%).Others were Giardia lamblia(5.7%),Hymenolepsis nana(5.0%),Trichuris trichiura(8.8%), Entamoeba histolytica(14.4%) and Schistosoma mansoni(8.4%).Conclusions:The infection rate of intestinal parasites in Kuraje village is high.More efforts should be intensified towards improvement in sanitary and housing standards,supply of potable water and institution of a more comprehensive literacy programme for the people of the community.

Recycling water glass from wet reclamation sewage of waste sodium silicate-bonded sand

Wet reclamation of waste sodium silicate-bonded sand produces much alkaline sewage and causes pollution. Recycling water glass from wet reclamation sewage of the waste sodium silicate-bonded sand can solve pollution issues and generate economic benefits. In this work, the wet reclamation sewage was filtered, and the filtrate was causticized with a quicklime powder to produce a lye. The effects of causticization temperature, causticization time, and the amount of quicklime powder on the causticization rate were studied. The lye was used to dissolve the silica in the filtration residue to prepare a sodium silicate solution. The effects of the mass of filtration residue, dissolution temperature, and dissolution time on sodium silicate modulus were studied. Finally, the recycled water glass was obtained by concentrating the sodium silicate solution, and the bonding strength of the recycled water glass was tested. The results showed that the causticization rate could be improved by increasing the amount of quicklime powder, causticization temperature, and causticization time, and the highest causticization rate was above 92%. Amorphous silica in the filtration residue dissolved in the lye. Increasing the amount of the filtration residue, dissolution temperature, and dissolution time could improve the sodium silicate modulus. The bonding strength of the recycled water glass was close to that of commercial water glass. The recycled water glass could be used as a substitute for the commercial water glass.

Water Analyses, Eco-Balance and Socio-Demographic Analyses as Prerequisites for Solutions of the Sewage Treatment Problems in Rural Areas

The implementation of the EU-water framework directive (EU-WFD) demands a financeable and adaptable sewage treatment, creating a need for action especially in rural areas, where the “good ecological status” is often not reached even though the sewage works fulfill the legal minimum requirements. Therefore the construction of new, more efficient wastewater treatment plants is advisable. Due to the precarious financial situation in most rural areas, many municipalities can however not master the necessary funds for an improved waste water infrastructure. A large part of the costs would have to be shouldered by the local population in the form of additional sewage levies, leading to massive socio-economic strain. Hence, different solutions, which are tailored to the socio-economic, demographic and environmental characteristics of rural areas and fulfill the legal requirements, need to be developed. One possible approach is presented in the form of the Dirlammen case study (municipality Lautertal, Hesse, Germany). It consists of 1) biological and physicochemical analyses of the waste waters, 2) a modified eco-balance for the construction of a new sewage works and 3) socio-economic and demographic analyses of the population. It serves as a tool for the assessment of the influencing ecological, socio-economic and demographic factors on the sewage problems in rural areas. These findings can easily be transferred to other rural areas with a similar configuration and thus deliver the basis for a generally applicable approach to these problems. The results of the comprehensive analysis have shown for the municipality Dirlammen/Lautertal that the continued operation of the existing pond sewage plant is, with regards to the ecological, socio-economic and demographic points of view, preferable to the construction of a new waste water treatment plant. With regard to the sustainability principles of the sewage treatment and the objectives of the EU-WFD, existing sewage works should be operated for as long as the sewage treatment is feasible within technical and legal boundaries. With the construction of new facilities on the other hand, the expected improvement of the water quality has to be weighed against the ecological impairments caused by the construction itself. Rural waste water plans have to be developed for the long-term, taking not only the ecology into account but also the demographic change. Possible approaches in this regard could be a shift towards a decentralized waste water treatment concept and–even more important–improvements of the river morphology. But also the reduction of the diffuse pollution from agricultural sources should be considered for the development of strategies for the improvement of the ecological state. Short-term optimization measures in the existing sewage works might also improve the water quality until the long-term development plans can be implemented. In particular the challenges of the demographic change and linked with that the changing requirements for the rural waste water treatment must be addressed by any future plans. Only with the help of such a comprehensive approach the dangers of bad planning and unacceptable socio-economic burdens can be minimized.

CAS-based Water Resources Optimal Allocation and Dynamic Simulation for Sewage Irrigation Area

Based on the theory of complex adaptive system(CAS),the optimal allocation model of water resources in sewage irrigation areas was established,which provided new ideas and application value for the rational utilization of agricultural production and waste water resources.The results demonstrated that the difference of crop energy capture mainly depended on the development stage.Waste water with a certain concentration was able to promote crop growth,while excessive concentration inhibited crop growth.The correlation between water absorption rate and leaf area index was close(R=0.9498,p<0.01).The amount of bad seeds increased at a speed of 34.7·d^-1,when system irrigated randomly in the seedling stage,while it tended to remain stable at a speed of 0.3·d^-1 after plants entering the mature stage which impacted the total yields of crops.

Nickel, lead and manganese content of forages irrigated with different sewage water treatments: A case study of a semiarid region (Sargodha) in Pakistan

The use of sewage water for agricultural purpose has tremendously increased during the last few years due to shortage of water availability, especially in semi-arid regions. Despite of many nutrients recycling advantages of sewage water, farmers are not fully aware of its harmful chemical composition. Heavy metals toxicity in soil and crops results from the long term use of sewage effluent for irrigation purposes. The present study was conducted to assess effect of sewage water on the uptake of Ni, Pb and Mn in different forage species with respect to the nutrient requirement of the grazing ruminants inSargodha,Punjab,Pakistan. Five samples each of six fodder species viz., Trifolium alexandrinum, Cichorium intybus, Avena sativa, Medicago polymorpha, Brassica campestris and Medicago sativa were collected from three fields irrigated with canal water, mix water (canal plus sewage water) and sewage water respectively. Pb, Ni and Mn concentration in the forage species during different treatments varied from 0.624 to1.672 mg/g, 7.364 to 10.17 mg/g and 5.136 to 12.422 mg/kg respectively. High value of Pb and Mn concentrations was observed during sewage water treatment. Lead is a non-essential element and is a very toxic metal. But in the present investigation Ni and Pb level in forages were below the toxic level, so the ruminants feeding on these forage species had no chance of Pb and Ni toxicity. On the other hand, Mn concentration in the forage species under observation was below the critical level. So the grazing animals at this location need continued mineral supplementation of Mn to prevent diseases caused by Mn deficiency, and to support optimum animal productivity. The objective of this study was to examine the potential for forage analysis as indicators of likely mineral deficiencies or excesses of grazing livestock during different sewage water treatments.

An Energy Analysis on Gasification of Sewage Sludge by a Direct Injection in Supercritical Water

Supercritical Water Gasification is an efficient technology in converting wet biomass into H2 and CH4 in comparison to other conventional thermochemical processes. Coke deposition, however, remains as a major challenge in this technology. Coke formation is the result of polymerization reactions that take place at sub-critical conditions. Directly injecting the relatively unheated wet biomass feed into supercritical water increases the heating rate and reduces the residence time of the feed in the sub-critical condition. This leads to a minimized coke formation in the process. However, a non-isothermal mixing takes place during this direct injection that is less energy-efficient. In addition, the biomass feedstream experiences less pre-heating that means less heat recovery from the product gas. These two aspects might reduce the overall process performance. Parametric studies of key operating parameters, such as operating temperature, dry matter content, bypass water ratio and heat exchanger effectiveness, are carried out to investigate the influence of direct injection to the thermal efficiency of the system. Subsequently, optimization using pinch analysis is conducted to the system with direct injection. Finally, an operating window for optimum performance of the optimized direct injection gasification system is proposed.

RESEARCH ON GUARANTEED WATER DEPTH FOR SAFE DRAINING AT ZUYUAN SEWAGE OUTLET

To select the location of sewage outlet in the sewage disposal program of Shanghai is a rather comprehensive problem which covers many fields and has great influences. The sewage outlet at Zuyuan, about 10 km away from Wusongkou, is situated on the south bank of the South Channel in the Yangtze Estuary. In order to determine the water depth which can guaranteed the safe draining of sewage at the outlet, a statistical method is adopted in this paper for the determination of the guarantee rate of safe draining at Zuyuan sewage outlet by means of the characteristics of fluvial process and previous topographic data, and the guaranteed water depth for safe draining is then determined.

Effect of Digested Sewage Sludge on the Ventilation and Coughing Rates of Two Fresh Water Fish

Addition of digested sewage sludge at concentrations of 2% and 10% (v/v) to the water increased coughing rate in big head and tilapia (P<0.05). Ventilation rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in big head and tilapia at sludge concentrations of 6% and 2% (v/v)respectively. Copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) are trace metals which are commonly found in sludge. Cu caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in coughing rate in both tilapia and big head at concentrations of 0.3 and 0.2 μg/ml respectively. Zn caused significant increase (P<0.05) in coughing rate only in big head at 2 μg/ml. Neither fish responded to Cd of up to 2μg/ml in the water. However, when the levels of these trace metals in the digested sludge were measured, they were below that which can cause significant changes in the respiratory movements. Therefore, the changes in ventilation and coughing rates after addition of sludge may be due to the presence of substances other than these metals. The results of this experiment provides a guideline to control the level of sludge that can be used in rearing these fresh water fish in ponds

Study on Pre-treatment of the Domestic Sewage by Water-dropping Aeration Zeolite Bed Technology

[ Objective] The research aimed to study pre-treatment effect of the domestic sewage by water-dropping aeration zeolite bed technology. [ Method] By water-dropping aeration manner, we conducted sewage reoxygenation. Zeolite was used to replace traditional contact oxidization fill- er. We inspected oxygenation effect of the water-dropping aeration manner and removal efficiency of the pollutant in sewage after biological contact oxidation. [ Result] Under the experimental condition with water-dropping heights of 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 m, average added values of the dissolved oxygen for raw water were respectively 2.4, 3.6 and 4.2 rag/l_ after water-dropping aeration. Under the situation with average HRT of 2 h, when COD, TN and TP of the influent were respectively 309.0 -464.0, 33.3 -95.0 and 4.0 -7.5 mg/L, their corresponding average removal rates were 47.25%, 46.39% and 40.75%. [ Conclusion] The research conducted useful attempt for high-efficiency and low-cost treatment of the domestic sewaqe in rural area.

The Hydrodynamic Behaviour of Euboean Gulf Coastal Areas and the Mixing of the Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Urban Sewage Discharged into Them under the Influence of Climate Change

The hydrodynamic circulation within the marine environment is a complex phenomenon, characterized by the interplay of strong tidal forces, atmospheric influences, and bathymetric features. The physical and hydrodynamic attributes of this flow play a pivotal role in promoting vertical mixing of seawater masses, thereby facilitating the integration of their physical and chemical parameters, including nutrients and oxygen. Additionally, they are instrumental in governing the dispersion and diffusion of pollutants originating from urban sewage, contributing to the overall water renewal process and environmental quality. This study investigates the potential impact of anticipated increases in average air temperatures on water column stratification in coastal regions susceptible to these dynamic influences. These areas receive treated urban sewage, and the study aims to assess how these temperature changes might influence the dispersion and mixing of pollutant loads present in these coastal waters.

Conditioning treatments mitigate the levels of fecal pollution indicators in soil during land-application of sewage sludge

Sewage sludge is a major source of fecal pathogens in the environment,and its application to land can result in a significant release of these pathogens into the soil.While conditioning treatments are crucial for improving the dewatering process of sludge,their impact on the presence and behavior of fecal pathogens in soil remains unclear.This study aims to assess four extraction methods for recovering fecal pollution indicators from soil amended with unconditioned and conditioned sludge.The indicators include Escherichia coli(EC),human-specific HF183 Bacteroides(HF183),human adenovirus(HAdV),human BK polyomavirus(BKPyV),human JC polyomavirus(JCPyV),and cross-assembly phage(crAssphage).This study also examines how soil moisture content affects the decay of these fecal pollution indicators in soil amended with raw sludge and investigates the influence of conditioning treatments with cationic polyacrylamide(PAM),Fenton’s reagents,Fe[III]/CaO on their persistence in soil.The results indicated that the direct extraction method was the most effective and unbiased for recovering fecal pollution indicators from sludge-amended soil compared with the three elution-concentration methods.All fecal pollution indicators,except HAdV,remained stable under dry soil conditions,while high soil moisture content(48.39%‒53.14%)slowed the decay rates of these indicators.During the application of sludge to soil,effective control of fecal pollution indicators was observed,with JCPyV and HAdV becoming undetectable within a short period.The log reduction values of HF183,BKPyV,and crAssphage ranged from 0.1 to 2.8 logs after 30 d of cultivation.The application of conditioned sludge,especially Fenton’s reagent-conditioned sludge,resulted in a reduction in human fecal contamination in the receiving soil.Therefore,implementing appropriate conditioning methods,such as using Fenton’s reagent,can effectively mitigate the health risks associated with fecal pathogens.

Current Seasonal Variations in Physicochemical and Heavy Metals Parameters of Sewage Treatment Plant Effluent and Suitability for Irrigation

The study aims to investigate the current extent of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination in the effluent of the Jaganpur sewage treatment plant (STP), Dayalbagh, Agra India. Majority of the nearby farmers have access to use of STP effluent in irrigation purposes for growing major edible crops. The problems of using STP effluent for irrigation purpose, continuous water quality analysis required. To check the quality of irrigation water, substantial physicochemical parameters accordance to Indian Standards (IS-Reaffirmed 2002/2003) analysed to calculate Sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and Residual sodium carbonate (RSC). To estimate the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and metal quality index (MQI), toxic Heavy metals such as As, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd, Co, and B also determined in the STP effluent with an AAS and results verified with ICP-OES against certified standards. The high value of SAR (range 13 to 20) and RSC (range -10 to 11) in STP effluent exceeded the permissible limit for irrigation purpose. On the other hand, HPI and MQI values (1692.4 and 58.1, respectively) show that high metal contamination mainly due to industrial and domestic wastewater does not treat appropriately in the sewage treatment plant. Thus it is suggested that further studies are carried out on the STP effluents to improve the water quality through proper treatment. Treated wastewater used for irrigation purposes needs to analyse the contamination like heavy metals and pinpoint the pollution sources.

Enzyme measurements for risk evaluations in sewage treatment plants

Objectives: Work in sewage treatment plants may cause health problems in terms of airways symptoms, unusual tiredness, fever, and diarrhoea. The presence of such symptoms has been related to bacterial endotoxin. The project was undertaken to assess if risk evaluations could be performed by measuring the amounts of two different microbial enzymes and to evaluate their relation to endotoxin. Methods: Measurements were performed at 120 work sites in 10 different sewage treatment plants of varying age and capacity. The content of N-acetyl-hexosaminidase (NAHA), bacterial hydrolase (BH) and endotoxin was measured in sewage water and in airborne samples. Results: There was a close relationship between endotoxin and NAHA, both in the water itself and in air samples. Generally exposure levels were low but higher at work sites where the water or sludge was agitated or when repairing pumps and cleaning basins. Conclusions: Measurements of NAHA are suitable to determine risk exposures in sewage treatment plants. Such measurements are faster and cheaper than measures of endotoxin. A level of 50-70 U/m3 is suggested as a risk threshold. Further work is required to define more precise threshold limit values.

Behavior of Antibiotic-Resistant Fecal Coliforms in the Stream of a Sewage Treatment Plant in Tokyo

We are confronting a new threat in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria followed by epidemic spread in aquatic environments in metropolitan areas because damage from river floods is increasing remarkably in Japan due to global extreme weather. The sewer penetration rate is about 100% in Tokyo and reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants accounts for over 50% of all water in both the down- and mid-stream areas of local rivers. The water quality of these rivers, which contain microflora, seems to be seriously affected by reclaimed water. In this study, we collected water samples on July 17, 2018 and examined the behavior of antibiotic-resistant fecal coliforms in the stream of a sewage treatment plant in Tokyo. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing fecal coliforms with encoding genes were found;the CTX-M-1, CTX-M-9, TEM, and SHV groups were found to have survived in the final effluent to the river after sterilization with sodium hypochlorite.

Combustion Characteristics of Sewage Sludge and Algae

Sewage sludge is a good source of energetically desirable compounds and green algae in developing country like India. In this work, the combustion characteristics of sewage sludge and green algae are described. The calorific value (CV) of dried sewage sludge (n = 7) and green algae (n = 11) was ranged from 1800 to 6250 and 3700 to 6280 kcal/kg with mean value of 3999 ± 1347 and 4428 ± 547 kcal/kg, respectively. The effect of proximate variables and water quality parameters in the CV of sludge and algae are discussed.

Stable Isotopic Signatures of NO3 in Waste Water Effluent and Los Angeles River

A metropolitan city such as Los Angeles (LA) is an ideal study site with a very high population density, and it houses at least 3 treatment plants where sewage is treated preliminarily and then progressing to tertiary treatment before discharging into the LA River. We will gain a better understanding of the water quality in the LA River and the nitrate load in the watershed system by examining the influence of waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). The goal of this study is to pinpoint the exact source of nitrate in the LA River using the isotope signatures. We have selected sampling locations both upstream and downstream of the WWTP. This serves to monitor nitrate levels, aiding in the assessment of treatment plant effectiveness, pinpointing nitrate pollution sources, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The research explores the isotopic composition of NO3 in relation to atmospheric nitrogen and Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, shedding light on the contributions from various sources such as manure, sewage, soil organic nitrogen, and nitrogen fertilizers. Specifically, there is a change in the δ15NAir value between the dry and wet seasons. The isotope values in the Tillman WWTP sample changed between dry and wet seasons. Notably, the presence of nitrate originating from manure and sewage is consistent across seasons, emphasizing the significant impact of anthropogenic and agricultural activities on water quality. This investigation contributes to the broader understanding of nitrogen cycling in urban water bodies, particularly in the context of wastewater effluent discharge. The findings hold implications for water quality management and highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of nitrogen-containing compounds on aquatic ecosystems. Overall, the study provides a valuable framework for future research and environmental stewardship efforts aimed at preserving the health and sustainability of urban water resources. This data informs decisions regarding additional treatment or mitigation actions to safeguard downstream water quality and ecosystem health.

Analysis of Municipal Water Supply and Drainage Pipe Design Technology

The quality and safety of residents’water rely heavily on the design of municipal water supply and drainage pipes.Therefore,this paper aims to enhance the optimization of municipal water supply and drainage pipe design by focusing on design requirements,principles,and key elements.Drawing from relevant design optimization experiences,technology advancements,and optimization measures,the research will analyze and consolidate the essential aspects of municipal water supply and drainage pipe design.The goal is to fundamentally elevate the quality standards of these designs,ensuring they meet the criteria for engineering project excellence.Through this comprehensive approach,we aim to contribute to the improvement and sustainability of water supply and drainage systems,safeguarding the well-being of residents.

Exploring groundwater quality in semi-arid areas of Algeria:Impacts on potable water supply and agricultural sustainability

Groundwater quality assessment is important to assure safe and durable water use.In semi-arid areas of Algeria,groundwater represents the main water resource for drinking water supply of the rural population as well as for irrigation of agricultural lands.Groundwater samples from wells and springs were collected from the Gargaat Tarf and Annk Djemel sub-watersheds of the Oum El Bouaghi,Algeria,and were analyzed and compared with the World Health Organization(WHO)standards.Results showed that most of the measured physical and chemical parameters exceeded the quality limits according to the WHO standards.Groundwater had a slightly alkaline water pH(7.00-7.79),electrical conductivity>1500μS/cm,chloride>500 mg/L,calcium>250 mg/L,and magnesium>155 mg/L.Water quality index(WQI)results showed that 68%of the area had excellent water quality,24%of the samples fell into good category,and only 8%were of poor quality and unsuitable for human consumption.Six wells in the area showed bacterial contamination.Total coliforms(453.9(±180.3)CFU(colony-forming units)/100 mL),fecal coliforms(243.2(±99.2)CFU/100 mL),and fecal streptococci(77.9(±32.0)CFU/100 mL)loads were above the standard limits set by the WHO.These results confirmed that water resources in the study area were strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities and were not recommended for consumption as drinking water.

Disinfection Byproducts and Their Precursors in Drinking Water Sources:Origins,Influencing Factors,and Environmental Insights

Tracing the contamination origins in water sources and identifying the impacts of natural and human processes are essential for ecological safety and public health.However,current analysis approaches are not ideal,as they tend to be laborious,time-consuming,or technically difficult.Disinfection byproducts(DBPs)are a family of well-known secondary pollutants formed by the reactions of chemical disinfectants with DBP precursors during water disinfection treatment.Since DBP precursors have various origins(e.g.,natural,domestic,industrial,and agricultural sources),and since the formation of DBPs from different precursors in the presence of specific disinfectants is distinctive,we argue that DBPs and DBP precursors can serve as alternative indicators to assess the contamination in water sources and identify pollution origins.After providing a retrospective of the origins of DBPs and DBP precursors,as well as the specific formation patterns of DBPs from different precursors,this article presents an overview of the impacts of various natural and anthropogenic factors on DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources.In practice,the DBPs(i.e.,their concentration and speciation)originally present in source water and the DBP precursors determined using DBP formation potential tests—in which water samples are dosed with a stoichiometric excess of specific disinfectants in order to maximize DBP formation under certain reaction conditions—can be considered as alternative metrics.When jointly used with other water quality parameters(e.g.,dissolved organic carbon,dissolved organic nitrogen,fluorescence,and molecular weight distribution)and specific contaminants of emerging concern(e.g.,certain pharmaceuticals and personal care products),DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources can provide a more comprehensive picture of water pollution for better managing water resources and ensuring human health.

Assessment of groundwater suitability for different activities in Toshka district,south Egypt

Globally,groundwater has globally emerged as a crucial freshwater source for domestic,irrigation,and industrial needs.The evaluation of groundwater quality in the Toshka region is imperative to ensure its suitability for the extensive agricultural and industrial activities underway in this promising,groundwater-dependent development area.This is particularly significant as Egypt increasingly relies on groundwater reserves to address freshwater deficits and to implement mega-development projects in barren lands.In this study,fifty-two samples were collected from the recently drilled wells tapping into the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer(NSA)in the Toshka region.Groundwater quality was assessed through hydrochemical analysis,Piper diagram,and various indicators such as Na%,SAR,RSC,KR,MH and PI.The hydrochemical analysis revealed improved groundwater quality characteristics,attributed to continuous recharge from Lake Nasser.The Piper diagram categorised most of the water samples as"secondary salinity"water type.Almost all wells proved suitable for irrigation with only two wells unsuitable based on MH values and six wells based on KR values.Considering Total Hardness(TH)values,all samples were classified as"Soft",indicating their suitability for domestic and industrial purposes.Water Quality Index(WQI)results concluded that all samples met WHO and FAO guidelines for drinking and irrigation,respectively.Spatial distribution maps,constructed using GIS,facilitate the interpretation of the results.Regular monitoring of quality parameters is essential to detect any deviation from permissible limits.