Enhanced decentralized wastewater treatment Scheme for buildings in challenging peri-urban areas of Nigeria

In peri-urban settlements of Nigeria, sewage management presents varied degrees of challenges, ranging from the use of pit toilets or defecation into watercourses in the rural areas, unregulated sewage disposal, high failure rates
of septic tanks and soakaway pits, due to poor designs, and environmental challenges. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess and proffer solutions to the challenge of wastewater management in environmentally-challenged periurban areas of Nigeria. To achieve this, an experimental research was adopted; whereas, model design, operation and observation under a controlled environment, constituted the methods adopted. The modelled enhance DWTS for an environmentally-challenged setting, included an elevated toilet, a conventional septic tank, baffled septic tank or Activated Baffled Reactor (ABR), secondary settler and filter, and constructed wetland. The test, using the developed
apparatus, entailed ensuring an optimal gravimetric flow of wastewater in pipes between the inspection chambers and in the treatment tanks, as expected in real-life situations. The result of this experiment is a colourless liquid that
passed through activated sludge and carbon, and considered fit for watering of farms. The system can successfully serve a minimum of three 4-bedroom family units.