CSBL
CSBL
CSBL
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 WATER
Grey water is all wastewater generated in households or office buildings from streams without
fetal contamination, i.e. all streams except for the wastewater from toilets. Sources of grey
water include, e.g. sinks, showers, baths, clothes washing machines or dish washers. As grey
water contains fewer pathogens than domestic wastewater, it is generally safer to handle and
easier to treat and reuse onsite for toilet flushing, landscape or crop irrigation, and other non-
potable uses. When grey water is mixed with toilet wastewater, it is called sewage or black water
and should be treated in sewage treatment plants or onsite sewage facility, which often is a septic
system. When it is kept separate, it may open up interesting decentralized treatment and reuse
options. The separate treatment of grey water falls under the concept of source separation which
is one principle commonly applied in ecological sanitation approaches. The main advantage of
keeping grey water separate from toilet wastewater is that the pathogen load is much reduced
and the grey water is therefore easier to treat and reuse.
Water shortage in India will be a key issue for its sustainable development in the future. India is
facing a water crisis and by 2025 it is estimated that India's population will be suffering from
severe water scarcity. International Water Management Institute (IWMI) predicts that by 2025,
one in three Indians will live in conditions of absolute water scarcity. Conventional groundwater
and surface water sources are becoming increasingly vulnerable to industrial and natural
pollution.
Grey water reuse methods can range from low cost methods such as the manual bucketing of
grey water from the outlet of bathroom, to primary treatment methods that coarsely screen oils,
greases and solids from the grey water before irrigation via small trench systems, to more
expensive secondary treatment systems that treat and disinfect the grey water to a high standard
before using for irrigation Water is vital to life and development in all parts of the world. The
availability of a water supply adequate in terms of both quantity and quality is essential to human
existence. Civilization developed around water bodies that could support agriculture and
transportation as well as provide drinking water. Recognition of the importance of water quality
developed more slowly. Early humans could judge water quality through physical senses of sight,
taste and smell. Not until the biological, chemical and medical sciences developed were methods
Department of civil engineering KSSEM Bangalore 1
Potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven disinfection for grey water treatment in rural areas.
available to measure water quality and determine its effects on human health and well-being.
The choice of system will depend on a number of factors including whether a new system is
being installed or a disused wastewater system is being converted because the household has
been connected to sewer. The main purpose of grey water recycling is to substitute the precious
drinking water in applications which do not require drinking water quality. Non-potable reuse
applications include industrial, irrigation, toilet flushing and laundry washing dependent on the
technologies utilised in the treatment process. With grey water recycling, it is possible to reduce
the amounts of fresh water consumption as well as wastewater production, in addition to
reducing the water bills. If grey water is regarded as an additional water source, an increased
supply for irrigation water can be ensured which will in turn lead to an increase in agricultural
productivity. Unlike rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling is not dependent on season or
variability of rainfall and as such is a continuous and a reliable water resource. This results in
smaller storage facilities than those needed for rainwater harvesting. Grey water has a relatively
low nutrient and pathogenic content and therefore, it can be easily treated to a high quality water
using simple technologies such as sand/gravel filters and constructed wetlands (planted soil
filters). Moreover, if space is not available, other systems such as sequencing batch (SBR) or
membrane reactors (MBR) can be installed in the cellar.
Water is the driving force of all nature. Water is vital to life and development in all parts of the
world. The availability of a water supply adequate in terms of both quantity and quality is
essential to human existence. Civilization developed around water bodies that could support
agriculture and transportation as well as provide drinking water. Recognition of the importance
of water quality developed more slowly. Early humans could judge water quality through
physical senses of sight, taste and smell. Not until the biological, chemical and medical sciences
developed were methods available to measure water quality and determine its effects on human
health and well-being.
Water pollution is the presence of some inorganic, organic, biological, radiological or physical
foreign substance in the water that tends to degrade its quality. Normally, water is never pure in
a chemical sense. It contains impurities of various kinds dissolved as well as suspended. The
polluted water is turbid, unpleasant, bad smelling, unfit for drinking, bath and washing and
incompatible in supporting life. Water pollution is also caused by the presence of undesirable
and hazardous . As grey water contains fewer pathogens than domestic wastewater, it is
generally safer to handle and easier to treat and reuse onsite for toilet flushing, landscape or crop
irrigation, and other non-potable uses. When grey water is mixed with toilet wastewater, it is
called sewage or black water and should be treated in sewage treatment plants or onsite sewage
facility, which often is a septic system. When it is kept separate, it may open up interesting
decentralized treatment and reuse options. The separate treatment of grey water falls under the
concept of source separation which is one principle commonly applied in ecological sanitation
approaches. The main advantage of keeping grey water separate from toilet wastewater is that
the pathogen load is much reduced and the grey water is therefore easier to treat.
materials and pathogens beyond certain limits. Much of the pollution is due to anthropogenic
activities like discharge of sewage, effluence and wastes from domestic and industrial
establishments, particulate matter and metals and their compounds due to mining and metallurgy
and fertilizer and pesticide runoffs from agricultural activities.
Waste water need to be treated. Commonly the chemical coagulants such as salts of iron and
aluminum are used. In this widely used coagulant is aluminum sulphate shortly known as Alum,
when added to raw water reacts with the bicarbonate alkalinities present in water and forms a
gelatinous precipitate. This floc attracts other fine particles and suspended material in raw water,
and settles down at the bottom of the container. But this process is costly and also over dosage
causes harmful effects on human being. In order to overcome these limitations, natural
coagulants such as moringa oleifera and tamarind seedpowder are used
There are different types of water based on their chemical, physical and biological
characteristics. The main types of water are
Potable water or drinking water is water fit for human consumption, which has undergone
appropriate treatment and can be consumed without any risks. It is clean, transparent, has no
unpleasant Oduor or taste and is free of any contaminants.
Fresh water is found naturally on the Earth's surface as ice, as water in wetlands, ponds, lakes,
rivers and streams, and as groundwater in aquifers. It usually has a low concentration of
dissolved salts and solids.
It is also called seawater, found in the Earth's oceans and seas. It has a concentration of dissolved
salts of about 3.5%.
The salinity of brackish water is somewhere between that of fresh water and seawater. The
salinity of brackish water is not accurately defined; it can range between 0.5 to 30 grams of salt
per liter.
Hard water has a high mineral content, particularly magnesium and calcium salts. It is also
known as calcareous water.
Soft water contains very small amounts of dissolved salts. It may be defined as water
withless than 50 mg per litre of calcium carbonate.
Distilled water is composed of H2O molecules, having been purified or cleaned through
distillation.
1.2.8 Wastewater
Wastewater is any type of water whose quality has been negatively affected by human activity.
According to the FAO, the water has no immediate value for the purpose it was used or produced
because of its quality, quantity, or the moment at which it is available.
Within the different kinds of used water, black waters are those that have been polluted with
feces or urine.
Raw water is water that has not undergone any treatment. It is found in natural sources and
reserves, in surface and groundwater bodies.
Grey water is domestic wastewater. It has less nitrogen and phosphorous than black water, and
contains organic and inorganic material, and microorganisms. Grey water owes its name to its
murky appearance and because it is somewhere between potable freshwater and wastewater.
Grey water includes the leftover, untreated water generated from washing machines, bathtubs
and bathroom sinks. Greywater has a lower contamination making it easier to treat. In India, it
is estimated that 31 billion liters of greywater is generated daily. Black water and grey water are
the two broad categories of domestic wastewater. One of the most significant differences
between blackwater and greywater lies in the rate of decay of the pollutants in each. In
Bengaluru, for instance, only about 40 per cent of the total wastewater generated gets treated,
and less than one per cent gets reused, as per a 2018 article by Urban Water Bengaluru.
The sun is an extremely powerful energy source, and sunlight is by far the largest source of
energy received by earth, but its intensity at earth‘s surface is actually quite low. This is
essentially because of the enormous radial spreading of radiation from the distant sun.
CHAPTER 2
LITRATURE REVIEW
2.1 Literature survey on treatment of grey water
In this chapter, investigations carried out on potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and
solar driven disinfection for grey water treatment in rural areas. A brief literature review is also
reported.
Hegokar, (2015) presented the design of laboratory scale grey water treatment system which is
restricted to 5 stages of physical operation such as raw grey water. 1st Filtration unit of sand and
gravel, 2nd dual filtration and scoring unit for treated grey water. The research paper is related
to physic-chemical characterization of grey water sample by using low cost technological
option[2].
Ayoub et al(2012) Water Installation of decentralized grey water treatment systems in small
rural communities contributes to a more sustainable supply. In order to gauge community
attitudes about collection and use of greywater, a door- to-door survey in the farming community
of Deir Alla, Jordan was conducted by Royal Scientific Society interviewers. The survey results
showed that the socio- economic characteristics of the study area are generally very difficult.
The families are poor and with low education levels. The main source of income for the local
people is derived from agricultural activities. However, in spite of all these considerations,
people are still willing to accept the reuse of greywater and to adapt its treatment in order to
secure their water needs for irrigation due to severe shortage of water resources in the study area.
The analysis demonstrated that on-site grey water reuse is a feasible solution for decreasing
overall urban water demand, not only from an environmental standpoint, but also from economic
Friedler et al (2005) With pilot plant treating light grey water for seven flats. The pilot plant
combines biological treatment (RBC) with physicochemical treatment(sand filtration and
disinfection). The pilot plant produced effluent of excellent quality, meeting the urban reuse
quality regulations, and was very efficient in TSS turbidity and BOD removal: 82%, 98% and
96%, respectively. The overall performance of the pilot plant was excellent, producing very high
quality effluent which meets the highest requirements of the Israeli Ministry of Health urban
reuse regulations. Overall removal efficiency ranged from 64% (COD) to 98% (turbidity),
producing very low effluent BOD (2.3 mg/l) and turbidity (0.6 NTU). The RBC SB successfully
retained bio solids produced in the process, discharging effluent with less than 20 mg/l TSS. The
pilot plant successfully removed 58%, 87%, 96% and 72% of the TP, TKN, ammonia and
organic nitrogen, respectively. This produced effluent with low nutrient content which together
with low BOD reduces the regrowth and fouling potential in the reuse system[4].
Friedler et al (2005) Analysed the economic feasibility of on-site grey water reuse in the urban
sector. RBC- and MBR-based systems were selected as model systems for the economic
analysis. The analysis showed that the investment costs of an RBC based system consist of less
than 0.5% of the price of a flat for buildings of more than 20 flats (five storeys). This paper
analyses the economic feasibility of on-site grey water reuse systems in new buildings in the
urban sector, since a prerequisite for this practice to become widespread is its economic
feasibility to the individual consumer. The analysis demonstrated that on-site grey water reuse is
a feasible solution for decreasing overall urban water demand, not only from an environmental
standpoint, but also from economic profitability under typical conditions[5].
Mama1 et al (2013) studied the performance and economic viability of a simple inexpensive
grey water treatment system consisting of a filtration unit and an adsorption unit was evaluated.
At steady state, the overall performance of the combined system was 85.68% BOD removal,
57.09% COD removal and 70.74% TSS removal. An economic analysis showed that 77.5%
savings in water expenditure can be achieved if a simple grey water treatment is installed for
toilet This paper analyses the economic feasibility of on-site grey water reuse systems in new
buildings in the urban sector, since a prerequisite for this practice to become widespread is its
economic feasibility to the individual consumer. The analysis demonstrated that on-site grey
water reuse is a feasible solution for decreasing overall urban water demand, not only from an
environmental standpoint, but also from economic profitability under typical conditions.
Therefore it is essential to reduce surface and ground water use in all sectors of uses and to
Department of civil engineering KSSEM Bangalore 15
Potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven disinfection for grey water treatment in rural areas.‖
substitute fresh water with alternative
flushing. The overall performance of the pilot scale was commendable producing an appreciably
improved quality of greywater. The final effluent at a steady state had a BOD of 13.7 mg/L
which is close to values obtainable with some standardized water treatment technologies[6].
Thakur et al,(2013) Emphasized that water is one resource that has no substitute. Even though
water covers three quarters of the planet, 97% of the Earth's water is saline water, and thus
useless for drinking and other purposes. Less than 3%ofwater is fresh water. In the recent years,
many events have occurred which point towards the decreasing fresh water resources of the
world. As the needs for water increase in agriculture, industry and households with the increase
in cities and populations the problem is getting worse globally. This situation necessitates that
the need of conservation of water be understood and put into practice. Therefore it is essential to
reduce surface and ground water use in all sectors of uses and to substitute fresh water with
alternative and to use water efficiently through reuse options. Since the intended use of water is
for irrigation and toilet flushing the required treatment standards are therefore less stringent as
compared to that for drinking purposes therefore the greywater is acceptable for reuse. From the
above study it can be concluded that that grey water recycling can be the viable option in
the present situation of water scarcity[7]
Kanawade et al, (2015) Presented a comparison of chemical versus biological package grey
water treatment systems was undertaken using a new laboratory based protocol that included a
synthetic grey water formulation that mimics average bathroom and laundry grey water in
Australia. The results for chemical, nutrient and metals removal showed that the treatment
systems behaved very differently under the test conditions. The chemical system was able to
remove most of the components of grey water that could be detrimental to the environment and
produced high quality product water. The biological system was only able to remove some of the
components of the grey water, and did not produce the same quality of product water. Grey
water compositions change with the use of more biodegradable, low environmental impact
personal care and cleaning products, biological treatment. The synthetic grey water formulation
that was developed as part of this research was proven to meet the parameter range criteria
and mimic an average grey water in composition as well as providing a suitable medium for the
transport of micro-organisms for testing. The testing protocol was found to work successfully to
allow each technology to be evaluated rigorously. Systems may be better suited to treating grey
water in the future [8].
Christova-Boala, (1995) Surveyed and selected four ―typical‖ Melbourne homes were and
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Potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven disinfection for grey water treatment in rural areas.‖
plumber to utilize grey water for toilet flushing and garden irrigation. Social surveys were
systems for all situations and at all costs but aims at providing a comprehensive description of
the main components for successful grey water management. In urban and per urban areas of
low and middle-income countries, grey water discharged untreated onto streets, into drainage
channels, rivers or ponds leads to surface water contamination, deterioration ofliving conditions
and
Soil tests were also undertaken on gardens to determine any long-term detrimental effects that
might occur as a result of using grey water [9].
Fangyue Li et.al, Hamburg Grey water reused guideline proposed in this paper was used as a
standard to evaluate the treatment efficiencies of reported grey water treatment. The MBR
appear to be very attractive solution for medium and high strength grey water recycling,
particularly in collective urban residential building serving more than 500 inhabitants [10].
Kordana,(2015) Suggested that the grey water recycling and economical use of rainwater can be
a valuable alternative source of water, especially for non-potable uses. This analysis showed that
the use of these systems in the tested building is financially viable, despite the fact that their
implementation is associated with incurring higher investment cost than in the base case (Variant
0). The study was expanded by a sensitivity analysis on the basis of which it was possible to
conclude that the project involving the use of alternative sources of pending water and energy in
this building is only slightly susceptible to changes in calculation
parameters. Conclusions the search for alternative sources of water and energy is essential due to
the rapid development of urban areas and the related increase in demand for these valuable
resources and the progressive depletion of natural resources. The research results described in
this paper have and can provide guidance to potential investors of such facilities. Considering
Morel And Diener, (2006) Found that the issue of grey water management including wastewater
from bath, laundry and kitchen but excluding toilet wastewater is steadily gaining importance,
especially in low and
increased health hazards. However, grey water is perceived as a valuable resource in rural areas
and arid regions where it is often used untreated in irrigation. Without precautionary measures,
this practice may lead to contamination of food, salinization and clogging of soils and
potentially also to groundwater pollution[13].
To conduct the potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven disinfection
for grey water treatment in rural areas
2.3 OBJECTIVES
To study the chemical and physical characteristics of the collected grey water
To design and develop a sustainable treatment system that is chemical free and environment-
friendly
To treat the greywater by wetlands which is cost efficient in terms of construction, operations &
maintenance.
To carry out performance evaluation of developed system for residence greywater treatment are
CHAPTER 3
Sea shells cluster on older shells, rock, piers, or any hard, submerged surface. They fuse together
as they grow, forming rock-like reefs that provide habitat for other marine animals and plants.
Watermen make their living harvesting sea shellss for food. But not only do sea shellss provide
sustenance and economy for thousands, they also have a tremendous ecological value, acting as
natural water purifiers by filtering and removing pollution from the ocean.
A single sea shells can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. Sediment and nitrogen cause
problems in Bay waters. Though nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants and animals, too
much of it—often from fertilizer runoff and septic tanks—boosts the growth of algae, which
overwhelm water bodies and ultimately reduce oxygen levels in them. Sea shells, clams, and
other shellfish help remove excess nitrogen from waters by incorporating it into their shells
and tissue as they grow.
Sea shells are filter feeders, meaning they eat by pumping large volumes of water through their
body. Water is pumped through the sea shell‘s gills by the beating of cilia. Plankton, algae and
other particles become trapped in the mucus of the gills. From there these particles are
transported to the sea shell‘s mouth and esophagus to be eaten, then to the stomach to be
digested.
Once the sea shells removes all nutrients, indigestible material is expelled as feces through the
anus. This waste trails away from the sea shells in a string, waving in the current of water that is
flowing out of the sea shells. Eventually the string breaks off and settles to the bottom, followed
by more strings.
The sea shells also produces an interesting waste called pseudofeces. Pseudofeces is unwanted
material, like silt, that the sea shells chooses not to eat, that gathers next to the gills and is
expelled from the sea shell‘s shell via a rapid closing of the valves.
The expelled particles swirl through the water and resemble a puff of smoke. These puffs of
smoke are an indication that sea shells are filtering the water and doing what they are meant to
do.
sustainability. So, when it came time to create our filtration products, we went with natural
sustainable coconut shells. The coconut shell filtration systems featured in KOR products have
been custom developed to remove chlorine, chloramines (chlorine and ammonia) and
objectionable tastes and odors found in tap water.
It also reduces hydrogen sulphide and other organic contaminants. Because of coconut carbon‘s
wide surface area and its porosity, this form of filtration can remove chemicals that have proven
difficult to expel using other forms of carbon.
Coconut shells are a purer form of carbon compared to coal and wood filters. Other forms of
activated structured and won‘t leach carbon can add to an off-putting taste from inorganic ash,
whereas coconut carbon is more tightly.
3.4 CHARCOAL
Water filters use a special type of charcoal known as ‗activated charcoal‘ to purify water.
Activated charcoal works through the process of adsorption. Note that adsorption is different to
absorption. Adsorption binds impurities chemically on the surface of the charcoal filter rather
than physically absorbing them. Activated charcoal is the ideal water filter because it removes
toxins from the water without stripping the water of salts and important minerals.Because
impurities are kept in the filter, it‘s important to replace your water filter every 12 months to
ensure it continues to work as it should. Charcoal the best water filter because the good stuff
stays, it makes your water taste better – removes chlorine and nasty odour Chlorine is vital to
ensure our water supply remains free of bacteria and viruses; however, we don‘t need to drink
chlorine/it‘s a disinfectant, it‘s relatively inexpensive and It‘s easy to maintain.
CHAPTER IV
Sedimentation tank, also called settling tank or clarifier, component of a modern system of water
supply or wastewater treatment. A sedimentation tank allows suspended particles to settle out of
water or wastewater as it flows slowly through the tank, thereby providing some degree of
purification. A layer of accumulated solids, called sludge, forms at the bottom of the tank and is
periodically removed. In drinking-water treatment, coagulants are added to the water prior to
sedimentation in order to facilitate the settling process, which is followed by filtration and other
treatment steps. In modern sewage treatment, primary sedimentation must be followed by
secondary treatment (e.g., trickling filter or activated sludge) to increase purification efficiencies.
Sedimentation is usually preceded by treatment using bar screens and grit chambers to remove
large objects and coarse solids. The tanks settle sludge while the grease and oil rise to the surface
and is skimmed off. Primary settling tanks are usually equipped with mechanically driven
scrapers. These drive the collected sludge continually towards a hopper in the base of the tank.
From here, it is pumped to treatment facilities using blowers or similar technologies. As a result,
biologica
materials remain on the surface and the heavy components (sludge) sink to the bottom to be
isolated. Afterwards, water is sent into an aeration tank to begin phase two. The secondary stage
uses biological processes to further purify wastewater. Sometimes there is a tertiary phase when
additional chemical treatment may occur.
The majority of the sedimentation process that occurs in tanks is of a mechanical nature. The aim
is to keep the wastewater moving (at various speeds) from the beginning to the end of the
process. Still, some portions of the water remain in a static state. They can cause a build-up of
solids that create blockages and sedimentation problems for the mechanical equipment used in
the treatment process.
CHAPTER V
5.1 TURBIDITY
Turbidity is the cloudiness of water. It is a measure of the ability of light to pass through water. It
is caused by suspended material such as clay, silt, organic material, plankton, and other
particulate materials in water.
Turbidity in drinking water is aesthetically unacceptable, which makes the water look
unappetizing. The impact of turbidity can be summarized in the following points:
The particulates can provide hiding places for harmful microorganisms and thereby shield them
from the disinfection process.
Suspended materials can clog or damage fish gills, decreasing its resistance to diseases, reducing
its growth rates, affecting egg and larval maturing, and affecting the efficiency of fish catching
method.
Suspended particles provide adsorption media for heavy metals such as mercury, chromium,
lead, cadmium, and many hazardous organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), andmany pesticides.
The amount of available food is reduced because higher turbidity raises water temperatures in
light of the fact that suspended particles absorb more sun heat. Consequently, the concentration
of the dissolved oxygen (DO) can be decreased since warm water carries less dissolved oxygen
than cold water.
Turbidity more than 5 NTU can be visible to the average person while turbidity in muddy
water, it exceeds 100 NTU. Groundwater normally has very low turbidity because of the natural
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Potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven disinfection for grey water treatment in rural areas.
If the filtered portion of the water sample is placed in a small dish and then evaporated, the solids
as a residue. This material is usually called total dissolved solids or TDS.
5.3 pH
pH is one of the most important parameters of water quality. It is defined as the negative
logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. It is a dimensionless number indicating the strength
of an acidic or a basic solution. Acidic water contains extra hydrogen ions (H +) and basic water
contains extra hydroxyl (OH−) ions.
pH ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. pH of less than 7 indicates acidity, whereas a pH
of greater than 7 indicates a base solution. Pure water is neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at
25°C. Normal rainfall has a pH of approximately 5.6 (slightly acidic) owing to atmospheric
carbon dioxide gas. Safe ranges of pH for drinking water are from 6.5 to 8.5 for domestic use
and living organisms need.
pH of water: A change of 1 unit on a pH scale represents a 10-fold change in the pH, so that
water with pH of 7 is 10 times more acidic than water with a pH of 8, and water with a pH
of 5 is 100 times more acidic than water with a pH of 7. There are two methods available
for the determination of pH: electrometric and colorimetric methods. Excessively high and low
pHs can be detrimental for the use of water. A high pH makesthe taste bitter and decreases
the effectiveness of the chlorine disinfection, thereby causingthe need for additional chlorine.
The amount of oxygen in water increases as pH rises. Low-pH water will corrode or dissolve
metals and other substances.
5.4 ACIDITY
Acidity is the measure of acids in a solution. The acidity of water is its quantitative capacity to
neutralize a strong base to a selected pH level. Acidity in water is usually due to carbon dioxide,
mineral acids, and hydrolysed salts such as ferric and aluminium sulphates. Acids
can influence many processes such as corrosion, chemical reactions and biological activities.
Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or from the respiration of aquatic organisms causes acidity
when dissolved in water by forming carbonic acid (H 2CO3). The level of acidity isdetermined
by titration with standard sodium hydroxide (0.02 N) using phenolphthalein asan indicato
5.5 ALKALINITY
The alkalinity of water is its acid-neutralizing capacity comprised of the total of all titratable
bases. The measurement of alkalinity of water is necessary to determine the amount of lime and
soda needed for water softening. Alkalinity of water is mainly caused by the presence of
2−
hydroxide ions (OH−), bicarbonate ions (HCO3−), and carbonate ions (CO3 ), or a mixture of
two of these ions in water. As stated in the following equation, the possibility of OH− and
HCO3− ions together are not possible because they react together toproduce CO32− ions:
OH−+HCO3−3→CO 2−+H2OOH−+HCO3−→CO32−+H2OE8
The high levels of either acidity or alkalinity in water may be an indication of industrial or
chemical pollution. Alkalinity or acidity can also occur from natural sources such as volcanoes.
The acidity and alkalinity in natural waters provide a buffering action that protects fish and other
aquatic organisms from sudden changes in pH. For instance, if an acidic chemical has somehow
contaminated a lake that had natural alkalinity, a neutralization reaction occurs between the acid
and alkaline substances; the pH of the lake water remains unchanged. For the protection of
aquatic life, the buffering capacity should be at least 20 mg/L as calcium carbonate.
5.6 CHLORIDE
Chloride occurs naturally in groundwater, streams, and lakes, but the presence of relatively high
chloride concentration in freshwater (about 250 mg/L or more) may indicate wastewater
pollution. Chlorides may enter surface water from several sources including chloride-containing
rock, agricultural runoff, and wastewater. Chloride ions Cl− in drinking water do not cause any
harmful effects on public health, but high concentrations can cause an unpleasant salty taste for
most people. Chlorides are not usually harmful to people; however,
the sodium part of table salt has been connected to kidney and heart diseases. Small amounts of
chlorides are essential for ordinary cell functions in animal and plant life.
Sodium chloride may impart a salty taste at 250 mg/L; however, magnesium or calcium chloride
are generally not detected by taste until reaching levels of 1000 mg/L. Standards for public
drinking water require chloride levels that do not exceed 250 mg/L.
There are many methods to measure the chloride concentration in water, but the normal one is
the titration method by silver nitrate
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is considered to be one of the most important parameters of water
quality in streams, rivers, and lakes. It is a key test of water pollution. The higher the
concentration of dissolved oxygen, the better the water quality.
Oxygen is slightly soluble in water and very sensitive to temperature. For example, the saturation
concentration at 20 °C is about 9 mg/l and at 0 °C is 14.6 mg/l.
The actual amount of dissolved oxygen varies depending on pressure, temperature, and salinity
of the water. Dissolved oxygen has no direct effect on public health, but drinking water with
very little or no oxygen tastes unpalatable to some people.
There are three main methods used for measuring dissolved oxygen concentrations: the
colorimetric method—quick and inexpensive, the Winkler titration method—traditional method,
and the electrometric method.
COD is a measure of the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter in a water sample that is
susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant. COD is widely used as a measure of the
susceptibility to oxidation of the organic and inorganic materials present in water bodies and in
the municipal and industrial wastes
Hardness is a term used to express the properties of highly mineralized waters. The dissolved
minerals in water cause problems such as scale deposits in hot water pipes and difficulty in
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Potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven disinfection for grey water treatment in rural areas.
Calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions cause the greatest portion of hardness in naturally
occurring waters. They enter water mainly from contact with soil and rock, particularly
limestone deposits.
These ions are present as bicarbonates, sulphates, and sometimes as chlorides and nitrates.
Generally, groundwater is harder than surface water. There are two types of hardness:
Temporary hardness which is due to carbonates and bicarbonates can be removed by boiling.
Permanent hardness which is remaining after boiling is caused mainly by sulphates and
chlorides.
Water with more than 300 mg/L of hardness is generally considered to be hard, and more than
150 mg/L of hardness is noticed by most people, and water with less than 75 mg/L isconsidered
to be soft.
From health viewpoint, hardness up to 500 mg/L is safe, but more than that may cause a laxative
effect. Hardness is normally determined by titration with ethylene diamine tetra acidic acid or
(EDTA) and Eriochrome Black and Blue indicators. It is usually expressed in terms of mg/L of
CaCO3.
CHAPTER VI
METHODOLOGY
6.1 General
This chapter deals with the materials used; methodology adopted to carry out the objectives. It is
presented in three phases.
6.2 Methodology 1
Journals publication and conference publication etc., will be surveyed and reviewed based the
potential use of biofilters, constructed wetland and solar driven Disinfection for grey water
treatment in rural areas
6.3 Methodology 2
Concentration (g/l)
Component
6.4 Methodology 3
Sedimentation tank
Filtration tank
Wetland construction
Solar sill
Influent tank
These are simple tanks with inlet & outlet baffle arrangement. The tanks are designed to give
enough residence time to enable removal of free oil & grease & other floating matter, scum etc.
A detention time between 10 min to 60 min is provided in which time the oil & grease rises up &
is skimmed off.
S Parameter Description
.
N
o
1 Detention 6 hours for plain settling
period 2 to 2.5 hours for
coagulant settling 1 to
1.5 hours for up-flow
type
2 L: B 1:3 to 1:4
3 Breadth of 40cm
tank
4 Depth of 26 cm
tank
5 Inlet and 2.75 to 3.0cm
Outlet zones
6 Freeboard 0.5m
It is a simple water treatment method using solar radiation (UV-A light and temperature) to
destroy pathogenic bacteria and viruses present in the water. It's efficiency to kill Protozoa is
dependent on the water temperature reached during solar exposure and on the climatic and
weather conditions.
Fig 6.7 :Solar still with parabolic reflector (Source: KSSEM Lab)
Turbidity
Conductivity
Total Suspended
Solids
Total Dissolved
Solids
Dissolved oxygen
COD
Total Hardness
Calcium
Magnesium
Chloride
phosphorus
Total Nitrogen
E-coli
6.5 Methodology 4
6.6 Methodology 5
pH 6.5-9.0
CHAPTER VII
Calcium 67 mg/l
phosphorus 12 mg/l
E-coli 4 MPN/100
ml
pH 7.5
The pH has considerably met the desired water quality parameters for drinking water, the
Dissolved Oxygen in water has been increased and the turbidity has decreased completely. The
increase in Total Hardness, Calcium, Chloride is due to use of seashells in filtration unit.
Seashells are made of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), the same substance as limestone. They tend
to dissolve in water, and the dissolved calcium and carbonate increase the calcium content, the
hardness, the alkalinity and chloride content of water.
The exception to this is, if the water is already hard, in those cases, the water may have no
capacity to dissolve much, or any, calcium carbonate as shown in tanle 7.2 and 7.3. By the same
token, water that is soft will dissolve much more calcium carbonate, and much faster, than water
that is not soft, up to the point that the water is no longer soft because of its dissolved mineral
content.
Seashells, limestone, and other forms of calcium carbonate tend to dissolve in fresh water, and
raise the water‘s pH, up until the water has a pH of 8.5 or thereabouts. At that point, little or no
additional shell or limestone will dissolve, but the already- dissolved mineral will buffer the
water, that is, it will react with any acids to resist a drop in pH (This is why it‘s very difficult to
reduce the pH of hard water).
The wetland construction sample reading shows the effective removal of turbidity, nutrients and
hardness. When compare to biofilter the efficiency of removal of nutrients is high in wetland
construction.
CHAPTER VIII
CONCLUSIONS
8.1 CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this project was to develop solar water purification system. This project focuses
on the development of systems that could purify biologically contaminated water by using the
solar energy and UV system. Even though the method is new, and requires much further work to
reach commercialized implementation, it has already proven to be a relatively simple and
reliable method.
Solar water purification is a functioning and sustainable grey water treatment method, suitable
for implementation in rural areas despite widely varying water contaminants and to purify the
water.
The Grey water sample was prepared in laboratory, the sample was alkaline in nature, the colour
was non agreeable and the grey water quality parameters did not meet the BIS standards. Hence
the purification was required. After purification, the grey water met the BIS Standards.
The pH, turbidity, total hardness, total alkalinity, solids, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen
demand met the desired water quality parameters as in IS 10500-2012. Though the hardness,
alkalinity, chloride, calcium content has increased after purification, the results meet the desired
grey water quality parameters.
The study also showed that the method has the potential to be implemented in much greater areas
than just the ones with continuous high levels of solar energy. The solar water purification
system was designed with the parameters of being sustainable, portable, cost effective ,easy to
use and scalable.
The solar disinfection was very effective in killing the bacteria where the sample contains 4 in
numbers after disinfection using solar rays the bacterials was killed and total coliform was
reduced to 0. By this we can conclude the grey water treatment using biofilter, wetland
construction and solar disinfection was effecting in removal of various parameter and also eco-
friendly, low cost purifier.
8.2 REFERENCES
[14] S.A. Kalogirou, Seawater desalination using renewable energy sources, Prog. Energy
Combust. Sci. 31 (2005) 242–281.
[16] M. Elimelech, W.A. Phillip, The future of seawater desalination: energy, technology, and
the environment, Science 333 (6043) (2021) 712–717.
[18] A.D. Khawaji, I.K. Kutubkhanah, J.-M. Wie, Advances in seawater desalination
technologies, Desalination 221 (1–3) (2008) 47–69.
[19] S. Al-Hallaj, M.M. Farid, A.R. Tamimi, Solar desalination with a humidification
dehumidification cycle: performance of the unit, Desalination 120 (3) (2018) 273–280.
[20] E. Viala, Water for Food, Water for Life a Comprehensive Assessment of Water
Management in Agriculture, Springer, 2018.
[21] H.E. Fath, Solar distillation: a promising alternative for water provision with free energy,
simple technology and a clean environment, Desalination 116 (1) (1998) 45–56.
[22] W.M. Alaian, E.A. Elnegiry, A.M. Hamed, Experimental investigation on the
performance of solar still augmented with pin-finned wick, Desalination 379 (2021) 10– 15.