Kenya is among the fastest growing economies on the continent of Africa. There has been an expansion of urban centres thanks to the rapid population growth. Waste water treatment has become an important aspect in the management of the urban centres. In this article, we will explore the methods that have been employed to facilitate municipal water treatment in Kenya.
The use of chemical methods is fairly common. Various chemicals have been found to get rid of unwanted toxins without affecting the safety of effluent once it is released. Chlorine and ozone are among the most commonly used examples. These two work through a process known as oxidation which kills harmful organisms in the effluent.
Neutralization is an alternative that has been adopted by some plants. This is a technique that involves the addition of an alkali or an acid to the effluent with the aim of changing its pH. Acidic waste may be neutralized by addition of lime. In coagulation technique, the chemical that is added results in formation of an insoluble product making it easier to get rid off.
Physical methods are also used widely throughout the country. The main defining characteristic is that these methods do not cause in any alteration in the chemical and biological characteristics of the waste. Sedimentation is among the examples of this method. This technique separates solid waste from liquid waste by use of gravity. Since solids are denser, they will settle at the bottom of the tank while the liquid will settle at the top and can be drained with ease.
Another physical method that is also effective is what is referred to as aeration. Air is physically added to the wastewater so as to increase the levels of dissolved oxygen. The presence of oxygen in the treatment tank promotes the growth of microorganisms. These microorganisms in turn lead to the break down of organic materials which ultimately helps to cleanse the sewage effluent.
Filtration is arguably one of the methods that have been in use for a long period of time. It is also an example of a physical technique as it does not alter the effluent either biologically or chemically. The success of this method is based on different sizes water and solid molecules. When the effluent is passed through a filter medium, solids are separated from liquids. A common form of filtration used in Kenya is the sand filter system.
Biological based methods are fairly new in most areas in the country but their use has been on a steady increase. With these methods, microorganisms are added to the effluent to aid with biochemical decomposition. The process results in formation of water, carbon dioxide and other by-products. These methods are broadly divided into aerobic and anaerobic options depending on whether or not oxygen is used.
The main reason as to why waste water is treated to rid it of harmful bacteria, toxins and inorganic and organic waste. This ensures that it will not be harmful to the environment when it is released after the process. The methods that are employed in Kenya and Africa, in general are similar to what is found elsewhere. However, Kenya is faced with a number of challenges include a lower efficiency of treatment plants and less funding for such projects.
The use of chemical methods is fairly common. Various chemicals have been found to get rid of unwanted toxins without affecting the safety of effluent once it is released. Chlorine and ozone are among the most commonly used examples. These two work through a process known as oxidation which kills harmful organisms in the effluent.
Neutralization is an alternative that has been adopted by some plants. This is a technique that involves the addition of an alkali or an acid to the effluent with the aim of changing its pH. Acidic waste may be neutralized by addition of lime. In coagulation technique, the chemical that is added results in formation of an insoluble product making it easier to get rid off.
Physical methods are also used widely throughout the country. The main defining characteristic is that these methods do not cause in any alteration in the chemical and biological characteristics of the waste. Sedimentation is among the examples of this method. This technique separates solid waste from liquid waste by use of gravity. Since solids are denser, they will settle at the bottom of the tank while the liquid will settle at the top and can be drained with ease.
Another physical method that is also effective is what is referred to as aeration. Air is physically added to the wastewater so as to increase the levels of dissolved oxygen. The presence of oxygen in the treatment tank promotes the growth of microorganisms. These microorganisms in turn lead to the break down of organic materials which ultimately helps to cleanse the sewage effluent.
Filtration is arguably one of the methods that have been in use for a long period of time. It is also an example of a physical technique as it does not alter the effluent either biologically or chemically. The success of this method is based on different sizes water and solid molecules. When the effluent is passed through a filter medium, solids are separated from liquids. A common form of filtration used in Kenya is the sand filter system.
Biological based methods are fairly new in most areas in the country but their use has been on a steady increase. With these methods, microorganisms are added to the effluent to aid with biochemical decomposition. The process results in formation of water, carbon dioxide and other by-products. These methods are broadly divided into aerobic and anaerobic options depending on whether or not oxygen is used.
The main reason as to why waste water is treated to rid it of harmful bacteria, toxins and inorganic and organic waste. This ensures that it will not be harmful to the environment when it is released after the process. The methods that are employed in Kenya and Africa, in general are similar to what is found elsewhere. However, Kenya is faced with a number of challenges include a lower efficiency of treatment plants and less funding for such projects.
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