Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia
Introduction The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) produces *800â1,000 kg of treated sewage sludge per day at its Manchinchi wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The biosolids are used for land application purposes although the contaminant and pathogen composition and quality of the biosolids h...
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OICC Press
2024-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://oiccpress.com/ijrowa/article/view/3102 |
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| author | James S. Phiri Reuben C. Katebe Chisha C. Mzyece Phillimon Shaba Hikabasa Halwindi |
| author_facet | James S. Phiri Reuben C. Katebe Chisha C. Mzyece Phillimon Shaba Hikabasa Halwindi |
| author_sort | James S. Phiri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) produces *800â1,000 kg of treated sewage sludge per day at its Manchinchi wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The biosolids are used for land application purposes although the contaminant and pathogen composition and quality of the biosolids have been unknown until this study. Zambia does not have legal standards and guidelines for biosolids management or application. The Manchinchi plant in Lusaka suffers from constant breakdowns such that the effectiveness of the plant to produce quality grade biosolids for land application use is questionable. In peri-urban areas, the problem of poor sanitation is being addressed using different technologies including urine diversion ecosan toilets. The effectiveness of ecosan toilets to stabilize faecal sludge has not been assessed in Zambia. The purpose of this study was to stabilize and characterize the biosolids from Manchinchi plant and ecosan toilets. Stabilization was done by use of drying beds and irradiation. The parametres that were used for characterization were microbiological, parasitological and heavy metals. Results Biosolids from the Manchinchi WWTP sun drying bed, ecosan toilets and from an experimental plasticcovered drying bed were found to contain different pathogenic microorganisms and contaminant levels. A radiation dose and time-related declining trend in pathogens loads in biosolids were observed. By the third week, no viable Ascaris eggs were detected. Based on controlled conditions, the biosolids quality was found to be within the internationally acceptable standards for restricted use. Conclusions Both the untreated LWSC biosolids and ecosan sludge contained pathogen levels with the potential to cause environmental and public health hazards if used for agriculture purposes. Under plastic-covered drying beds, viable Ascaris eggs were not detected by the fourth week of treatment and the biosolids were stabilized to levels equivalent to Class C of the Australian standards for restricted land application. Covered drying beds can be considered as cost effective stabilization treatment technology for biosolids in developing countries. The technology has potential benefits for improving public health and reducing environmental pollution in Zambia, especially during the rainy season when biosolids are directly discharged into the environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36743ce4fa3e4eea85d38f3ce340e6d4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2195-3228 2251-7715 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | OICC Press |
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| series | International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-36743ce4fa3e4eea85d38f3ce340e6d42025-08-20T02:08:14ZengOICC PressInternational Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture2195-32282251-77152024-02-013310.1007/s40093-014-0061-3Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, ZambiaJames S. Phiri0Reuben C. Katebe1Chisha C. Mzyece2Phillimon Shaba3Hikabasa Halwindi4Institute for Eco-Development Strategies and Toxicology (IESTO), Lusaka, ZambiaNational Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), Lusaka, ZambiaNational Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), Lusaka, ZambiaNational Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), Lusaka, ZambiaDepartment of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia (UNZA), Lusaka, ZambiaIntroduction The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) produces *800â1,000 kg of treated sewage sludge per day at its Manchinchi wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The biosolids are used for land application purposes although the contaminant and pathogen composition and quality of the biosolids have been unknown until this study. Zambia does not have legal standards and guidelines for biosolids management or application. The Manchinchi plant in Lusaka suffers from constant breakdowns such that the effectiveness of the plant to produce quality grade biosolids for land application use is questionable. In peri-urban areas, the problem of poor sanitation is being addressed using different technologies including urine diversion ecosan toilets. The effectiveness of ecosan toilets to stabilize faecal sludge has not been assessed in Zambia. The purpose of this study was to stabilize and characterize the biosolids from Manchinchi plant and ecosan toilets. Stabilization was done by use of drying beds and irradiation. The parametres that were used for characterization were microbiological, parasitological and heavy metals. Results Biosolids from the Manchinchi WWTP sun drying bed, ecosan toilets and from an experimental plasticcovered drying bed were found to contain different pathogenic microorganisms and contaminant levels. A radiation dose and time-related declining trend in pathogens loads in biosolids were observed. By the third week, no viable Ascaris eggs were detected. Based on controlled conditions, the biosolids quality was found to be within the internationally acceptable standards for restricted use. Conclusions Both the untreated LWSC biosolids and ecosan sludge contained pathogen levels with the potential to cause environmental and public health hazards if used for agriculture purposes. Under plastic-covered drying beds, viable Ascaris eggs were not detected by the fourth week of treatment and the biosolids were stabilized to levels equivalent to Class C of the Australian standards for restricted land application. Covered drying beds can be considered as cost effective stabilization treatment technology for biosolids in developing countries. The technology has potential benefits for improving public health and reducing environmental pollution in Zambia, especially during the rainy season when biosolids are directly discharged into the environment.https://oiccpress.com/ijrowa/article/view/3102Biosolids. Solar, drying beds. De, watering process of biosolids. Sludge associated pathogenic microorganisms, , , , , , , , |
| spellingShingle | James S. Phiri Reuben C. Katebe Chisha C. Mzyece Phillimon Shaba Hikabasa Halwindi Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture Biosolids. Solar, drying beds. De, watering process of biosolids. Sludge associated pathogenic microorganisms, , , , , , , , |
| title | Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia |
| title_full | Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia |
| title_short | Characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic-covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in Lusaka, Zambia |
| title_sort | characterization of biosolids and evaluating the effectiveness of plastic covered sun drying beds as a biosolids stabilization method in lusaka zambia |
| topic | Biosolids. Solar, drying beds. De, watering process of biosolids. Sludge associated pathogenic microorganisms, , , , , , , , |
| url | https://oiccpress.com/ijrowa/article/view/3102 |
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