Current Concepts in Engineering Research and Technology Vol. 2

In many rural communities in the Niger Delta, untreated sewage is indiscriminately discharged into surface water bodies due to poor sanitation infrastructure, lack of central sewage treatment plants, and inadequate maintenance of septic systems. This research addressed the fundamental issue of Water scarcity in Nigeria's Niger Delta, which fuels water-borne diseases as untreated sewage contaminates vital freshwater sources. A locally designed sewage plant “engineered sewage treatment system” (ESTS) was therefore designed and developed with local materials like palm kernel shell (PKS), periwinkle shell (PWS), charcoal, fine, and coarse sand to treat domestic wastewater and improve the quality of the available water source within the local communities. Results showed remarkable efficiency (93-100%) in removing F. coliform, E. coli, and other harmful bacteria. With performance comparable to borehole water standards, this cost-effective solution offers a practical way to curb disease spread and improve water quality in resource-limited riverine communities. The ESTS, operated for 3 months, demonstrated significant reductions in contaminants, meeting WHO/FMEnv standards. The analysis of the treated effluents showed a significant reduction in the levels of contaminants as most of the physicochemical and biological parameters were within acceptable limits, making water readily available and affordable (cost-effective) as well as helping to curb the proliferation of water- borne diseases and improve water quality in riverine communities.