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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.103.12479. Moore, E. N. (2022). Patenting of Classic Wastewater Treatment System with Naturally Occurring Organic Materials in the Niger
Delta Region of Nigeria. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 559-571.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Patenting of Classic Wastewater Treatment System with
Naturally Occurring Organic Materials in the Niger Delta Region
of Nigeria
MOORE, E. N.
PhD, FNSE, FNICE, R. Eng, MASCE
ABSTRACT
The Classic wastewater treatment system (engineered sewage treatment system)
was developed and deployed to treat domestic waste (human fasces and urine)
water for re-use. Naturally occurring organic materials were used in the treatment
process, where 40% of these treatment materials are considered as waste in itself.
Effluent from the treatment system was analyzed with physico-chemical and
microbial parameters within stipulated limits of WHO/FMENV for safe water use.
The removal efficiency of E.Coli, fecal coliform, total coliform, streptococcus and
phosphorus from the effluent ranged between 90 to 99% which shows the
effectiveness of the treatment system in sewage treatment.
INTRODUCTION
Description of the Invention
The Engineered Sewage Treatment System, a compact plant (3m x 3m) treats domestic sewage
(human fasces/Urine) water for re-use as good water for domestic use. The plant comprises of
seven (7) chambers as follows:
(1) Sewage receptor/ Sedimentation Separation Chamber where sewage is separated into
sludge (solid) and wastewater (liquid);
(2) Periwinkle shell unit (first absorption chamber);
(3) Palm kernel shell unit (second absorption chamber), chambers 2 & 3 are coagulation
cells where solid particulates and suspended solids are trapped ;
(4) Sharp sand unit (first filtration chamber) is ;
(5) Charcoal unit (Oxidation and detoxification chamber);
(6) Coarse sand unit (Second filtration chamber); and
(7) Coarse/Fine sand bed unit (Final filtration chamber).
All the chambers are covered with concrete slab except the sixth chamber which is covered with
plain glass sheet to enable the absorption of UV rays from the sun. They were covered to
prevent external factors from affecting the treatment process.
The design flow rate of 0.6 m3/d was considered for the prototype model and is deepest at the
influent point with a depth of 1m and process flow is by gravity. The ESTS details are provided
in Figures 1 & 2.
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 3, June-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
The units (Cells) are connected in series with the first six (6) units measuring 0.8 m x 0.8 m x
1.0 m each and covering an area of 3.84 m2, with the coarse/sharp sand unit measuring 0.8 m x
2.70 m x 1.0 m cell and covering an area of 2.16 m2
Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the Engineered Sewage Treatment System Design layout (Plan
Elevation)
Figure 2: Schematic Diagram of the Engineered Sewage Treatment System Process Flow.
MATERIALS & METHOD
Technical description
The chamber walls are built with 150mm hollow sand-Crete blocks with the pockets filled with
weak concrete mix (1:4:8) and walls/floor rendered in mortar (1:3) to make the walls and floor
liquid impermeable. The tops of cells 1 to 5 are covered with concrete slabs after treatment
materials are introduced into the cells to avoid external microbial action taking place. The top
of the sixth cell is covered with a 6mm thick glass sheet that allows the absorption of UV rays
from the sun whilst the last cell which is the final filtration bed is covered also with concrete
slab. The design parameter considered are as shown in table 1. 800 700 650 600 550 500 450
200
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sewage inlet
Treated effluent
discharge.
Concrete Slab
cover
Glass
cover
Concrete Slab
cover
Concrete Slab
cover Sunlight
1000
6" Hollow Block
partitions.
Concrete Slab
cover
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Moore, E. N. (2022). Patenting of Classic Wastewater Treatment System with Naturally Occurring Organic Materials in the Niger Delta Region of
Nigeria. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 559-571.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12479
Table 1: Design parameters of Domestic Wastewater Treatment System
Design parameters Values
Population (person) 10
Minimum daily flow (m3/d) 0.2
Maximum hourly flow (peak coefficient = 3.38) (m3/hour) 0.0282
Maximum daily flow = 3 × (minimum hourly flow) (m3/d) 0.6
Daily flow per person (L/person d) 20
Daily organic load per capita (grBOD5/capita-d) 0.1665
Size of Sewage Cell (Unit) (m3) 0.64
Source: Moore, E (2019)
The domestic wastewater treatment system model has three main parts. The first part is the
toilet where the water closet (WC) is installed. The second part consists of six (6) cells
completely covered on all sides where the treatment process takes place as shown in Fig 2.
While water level rises, the wastewater goes into those six cells connected in series through
small connecting pipes. There are also two pipes connecting the first and sixth cells for the
collection of water sample where a ball valve is installed for control. Also, along the sample
collection pipes, a tube is connected vertically and exposed to the atmosphere which is used to
balance the pressure of the system as well as monitor/release the produced gases.
Background of Invention
The average “educated” person within the Niger Delta and even in Nigeria does not understand
what sewage is all about and so do not know what to talk about and its consequences when not
treated holistically. Only a handful of people within our communities know that sewage can
undergo treatment and the waste water which has been treated can be recycled for use and the
sludge deployed for agricultural use as manure. This ignorance and the lack of responsibility
on the part of the citizenry and government to a large extent has left the surface and ground
water polluted because of the direct and unmonitored discharge of sewage into our surface
water bodies and indeed poorly designed and built Septic systems in operation across Niger
Delta and Nigeria.
But no matter how much we would like to avoid it, the truth is that sewage treatment is the
foundation of a community’s health and well-being. There are lots of basic facilities that people
can do without for a long period, but you need to have that assurance that when any domestic
waste water is generated, that a reliable, hygienic and effective disposal that is treated before
final discharge that conforms to regulation limits is in place.
It is common knowledge that everything which goes down into the drain in kitchens, bathrooms
and toilets has to go somewhere when it leaves the house. For the case of our people in the
Niger Delta, buried pipes (where they exist) connect the drains to a septic tank system (for
those who can afford it). Most at times poorly designed and constructed septic tank systems or
the connected pipes are left to discharge to the nearby environment especially effluents from
bathrooms and kitchens [3]. On the other hand, direct discharge occur where there are surface
water bodies like rivers, creeks, and streams etc. In all the above cases, the ultimate effluent
that percolates to the Aquifer are untreated (unsafe) for domestic use as revealed in this study
where the community borehole water quality parameters did not conform to WHO and FMENV
acceptable limits [3].