Investigating the use of Water Lettuce for the Treatment of Wastewater at Kakoba Treatment Plant

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Date

2024-04-22

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Uganda Christian University

Abstract

This research focuses on supplementing the wastewater treatment processes at Kakoba Waste Stabilization ponds using phytoremediation (using aquatic plants). There has been a positive response in harnessing the technology of plants to clean wastewater. Improperly treated domestic wastewater is quite harmful to the environment. Scientists are intricately studying this approach and the realization is its cost effectiveness, ecofriendly attributes and ability for it to run with no need for energy. The major aim of this specific study is to investigate how effectively Water Lettuce remove nutrients, and BOD from secondary treated wastewater. It put a test the polishing abilities of domestic wastewater. Treatment was executed in two troughs, one tub without the water lettuce was taken as the control unit and the second labeled the treatment unit that had the water lettuce. The troughs were of dimensions 0.7m×0.5m×0.3m. The sewage samples were assessed for three pollutants, T.N and T.P. After 10 days, the results were impressive from the treatment, they showed that water lettuce removed 80.93% and 77.90% removal efficiency of T.P and T.N respectively. BOD5 analysis was also carried out for 15 days and the results portrayed a percentage reduction of 86.16% on the 15th day. Because the effluent from the treatment unit met the discharge standards for T.N, T.P and 〖BOD〗_5 it was safe to be released into the environment. This study focused on optimizing the existing infrastructure in a to meet the present demands in a cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner.

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