Analysis and Characterization of Untreated Greywater Obtained from Enugu Metropolis.

Abstract

Greywater is a wastewater discharge originating from kitchen sinks, showers, baths, washing machines and dishwashers. The composition of greywater varies greatly according to its origin (i.e., bathroom, laundry or kitchen greywater) and is influenced by the water quality of the locality. In the current study, the physicochemical and microbial characteristics of greywater obtained from Enugu metropolis were assessed. The greywater samples were collected from different households and mixed together to get a representative sample of the location. The samples were analyzed for: pH, temperature, turbidity, total suspended solid (TSS), chloride, phosphate, sulfate, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia, total bacterial count, total fungal count and total coliform using standard procedures. The results showed that the pH, temperature, turbidity, total suspended solid (TSS), chloride, phosphate, sulfate, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia had values of 7.1, 30 (◦C), 527.5 (NTU), 831.5 (mg/L), 708.7 (mgCl/L), 3.5 (ppm), 17.5 (mg/L), 705.2 (mg/L), 14.0 (mg/L), and 5.6 (µg/L), respectively. Total bacterial count, total fungal count and total coliform had values of 3.2×104 , 1.6×104 , and 1.1×104 , respectively. Most of the physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, BOD5, phosphate, sulphate, ammonia fall within the permissible limits allowed for wastewater discharge by WHO and FEPA standard while turbidity, total suspended solid (TSS), chloride, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were above the maximum permissible levels. The presence of microbial load in the greywater could be as a result of mixing children diapers with other clothes during cleaning. The presence of these compounds showed that the greywater samples were contaminated and could harm ecosystems if not properly treated and therefore should be treated before reuse or disposed.