Bacterial indicator concentrations in a local ecological sanitation (Ecosan) system

• Main Author: Leanne, Marian Hong
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS 2008
• Subjects: Q Science (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/7634/3/Leanne%2C%20Marian%20Hong.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/7634/

Greywater Treatment Facilities (GTF) located at Kenanga College, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, is based upon the Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan) system where it recognizes domestic wastewater not as waste but as a resource that can be treated when necessary to be safely used again in many purposes. The present study is a study on the efficiency of the GTF to reduce the level of microorganisms. Bacteriological parameters such as total coliform, total bacterial, heterotrophic bacterial and faecal coliform counts as well as a series of biochemical tests namely IMViC test and Kligler Iron Agar test were carried out in this study. It was found that the GTF’s efficiency varied depending on the treatment stage. Based on the bacterial indicator concentrations, the oil and grease trap at the early stage of the treatment before heading to the reservoir demonstrated efficiency within the range of 22% to 100% in reducing the microbial population compared to the biofilter tanks utilizing different filter media which has shown increment in the bacterial indicator concentrations within the range of 3.7% to 97% for both outlets. There are several contributing factors affecting the efficiency such as structure and maintenance of the system and nutrient availability. Further research can be carried out in order to aid in the improvement of the established treatment system.