Sullage disposal in rural Egypt ‐ the degree of pollution and potential health hazards

Abstract

As part of an overall research program concerning the broader aspects of policy development, in relation to liquid waste disposal in a developing nation, the need was identified to characterize the liquid wastes themselves. Only then can options be considered for disposal in relation to policy implementation and outcomes. This paper presents the results from the investigation of one of these liquid waste streams, that of sullage disposal in an Egyptian village. Results are presented for the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste together with the physical characteristics of the households and the socio-economic characteristics of the inhabitants. Various relationships are investigated and the degree of pollution in relation to the environmental health of the populace is determined. IntroductionIn rural Egypt, as in many of the developing areas of the world, the standard of sanitation is very poor resulting, in many cases, in appalling living conditions within communities. The existence of adequate and safe sanitary waste water collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal facilities in such areas is virtually unknown. Today the problem is amplified by the steady increase in potable water house connections. While this is widely associated with health improvements (Jackson et al. 1989), it inevitably leads to an increase in water usage and ultimately an increase in domestic waste water. Consequently there is an urgent need to find appropriate solutions, which are both economically and technically feasible for Egypt, and other developing countries, to convey and treat the waste, reduce the health hazards and improve the overall environmental conditions of the rural population.To do this successfully requires good planning and forethought which in turn should be based on national policy, developed specifically for the sector. Policy development and analysis for liquid waste disposal in the rural areas was, therefore, identified as an urgent requirement. Research is currently underway, with the aim of producing a suitable dynamic model for local planners and decision makers. During the preliminary stage of this work it became evident that in order to input solutions, for implementation, into the policy model the liquid waste streams must be characterized.