Ablution greywater treatment with the modified re-circulated vertical flow bioreactor for landscape irrigation

Abstract

A B S T R A C TMounting pressure to conserve water supplies has stimulated greywater recycling to be reused for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation. A potential greywater source in Jordan as well as other countries is ablution water generated in mosques from prayers' washing rituals. In this study, ablution greywater treatment with the low cost and easy to operate modified re-circulated vertical flow bioreactor was evaluated in terms of its treatment efficiency in order to supply some of the landscape irrigation needs in Al-Balqa' Applied University. The treatment system adequately removed BOD 5 , chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, chloride, and Na by up to 94, 88, 90, 48, and 33%, respectively. Dissolved oxygen was significantly increased by up to 133%. Concentrations of Mg, Ca, and K were also increased by up to 29, 63, and 95%, respectively. Nitrate concentration of the treated ablution greywater (TA) increased but remained less than the maximum allowable limit. Treatment efficiency fluctuated with time and quality of untreated ablution greywater concerning electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and SO 4 . Concentrations of these water quality indicators were much less than the maximum allowable limits of the Jordanian guidelines. In addition, according to the WHO guidelines, TA is considered suitable for irrigation of ornamentals, fruit trees, and fodder crops. Removal efficiencies of the treatment system were higher than those of other systems previously operated in Jordan. The modified re-circulated vertical flow bioreactor demonstrates great potential for treating low-quality ablution greywater. The wide application of this treatment system in mosques will achieve economic and ecological benefits.

Quality of Greywater in Oman and Its Treatment Using a Sustainable System

“…5(d)). Prathapar et al [9] and Al-Zu'bi et al [10] also reported increase in the concentration of Na, Mg, Ca, carbonates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrate after treating AG. The possible reason for the increase in the concentration of Mg, SO 4 -2 and NO 3 could be the ion exchange phenomenon that occur in activated carbon, which resulted in the reduction of high quantities of Cl and increase in SO 4 -2 and NO 3 , and decrease in the concentration of Na with the increase in Mg after treatment.…”

“…Therefore, separating AG at its source and channelling it through basic treatment to recycle for non-potable water application could result in huge amount of water and cost savings [4], [5]. Moreover, large volume of wastewater can be reduced which in turn decrease the cost of sewage treatment plant [10]. However, greywater treatment system also requires extra capital investment, operational and maintenance expenses, thus an effective treatment system based on the quality and quantity of greywater must be designed and adopted which is also financially feasible [9].…”

Grauwasserreinigung mit einer Sumpfpflanzenmatte unter Praxisbedingungen

“…Für die Aufbereitung von Grauwasser werden, je nach angestrebtem weiteren Verwendungszweck, unterschiedlich technisch aufwendige Verfahren eingesetzt 7, 8. Gleichzeitig ist das Interesse an einer Aufbereitung und Wiederverwendung von Grauwasser weltweit groß 9 – 11. Technisch vergleichsweise einfache Behandlungsverfahren zur Grauwasserbehandlung sind Sandfilter 2 und Sumpfpflanzenkläranlagen 12, 13.…”