Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Applicability of a Septic Tank/Engineered Wetland Coupled System in the Treatment and Recycling of Wastewater from a Small Community

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

ABSTRACT

A septic tank (ST)/engineered wetland coupled system used to treat and recycle wastewater from a small community in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was monitored to assess its performance. The engineered wetland system (EWS) had two parallel units each with two serial beds packed with different sizes of media and vegetated differently. The larger-sized medium bed was upstream and was planted with Phragmites (reeds) and the smaller-sized medium bed was downstream and was planted with Typha (cattails). The ST/EWS coupled system was able to remove ammonia by an average of 60%, nitrate by 71%, sulfate by 55%, chemical oxygen demand by 91%, and fecal coliform as well as total coliform by almost 100%. The effluent from the ST/EWS coupled system is used for irrigation. Notably, users of the recycled irrigation water do not harbor any negative feelings about it. This study demonstrates that it is possible to treat and recycle domestic wastewater using ST/EWS coupled systems. The study also brings attention to the fact that an ST/EWS coupled system has operation and maintenance (O&M) needs that must be fulfilled for its effectiveness and acceptability. These include removal of unwanted weeds, harvesting of wetland plants when the EWS becomes unappealingly bushy, and routine repair.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • ARI (Ardhi Institute)/SDP (Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project). 1995. Community Infrastructure Upgrading Programme in Dar es Salaam City, Study reports volumes 1–5. Reports submitted to the World Bank

  • C. Ahn W. J. Mitsch (2002) ArticleTitleScaling considerations of Mescosm wetlands in simulating large created fresh water marshes Ecological Engineering 18 327–342 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0925-8574(01)00092-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameAPHA (American Public Health Association), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF) (1992) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater EditionNumber20th ed APHA Publishers Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • L. W. Canter R. C. Knox (1985) Septic tank systems effects on groundwater quality Lewis Publishers Chelsea, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaggu, E., and E. John. 2002. Ecological sanitation toilets in Tanzania. In 3rd International Conference on Integrated Environmental Management in Southern Africa, August 27–30, Johannesburg

  • E. J. Chaggu S. Mgana M. Rwegasira R. Mato G. R. Kassenga (1993) Groundwater pollution in Majumbasita–Dar es Salaam. Final Research Report Ardhi Institute Tanzania 20

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Chaggu D. Mashauri J. Buuren ParticleVan W. Sanders G. Lettinga (2002) ArticleTitleExcreta disposal in Dar es Salaam City Environmental Management 30 IssueID5 609–620 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00267-002-2685-8 Occurrence Handle12375082

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J. Coleman K. Hench K. Garbutt A. Sexton G. Bissonnette K. Skousen (2001) ArticleTitleTreatment of domestic wastewater by three plant species in constructed wetlands Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 128 283–295

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Cooper (2001) ArticleTitleConstructed wetlands and reed beds: Mature technology for the treatment of wastewater from small populations Journal of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management 15 IssueID2 79–85

    Google Scholar 

  • P. F. Cooper G. D. Job M. B. Green R. B. E. Shutes (1996) Reed beds and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment WRc Swindon Wiltshire, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, P. F., A. Thorton, G. Pearce, C. Abbott, and N. Hasnip. 1998. Constructed wetlands to remove drainage water: The potential for application of constructed wetlands in the water cycle in developing countries. WRc Report UC 3114 submitted to Department of International Development, Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

  • R. Crites G. Tchobanoglous (1998) Small and decentralised wastewater management systems McGraw-Hill Boston, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • P. M. Geary E. A. Gadner (1999) Sustainable on-site treatment systems D. M. Sievers (Eds) On-site wastewater treatment. Proceedings of the 8th national symposium on individual and small community sewerage systems, March 8–10, 1998 Orlando Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Gondwe F. L. Mwanuzi T. S. A. Mbwette (1997) ArticleTitleSeptic tanks–soakpit systems in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Journal of Environmental Engineering 123 IssueID1 93–95 Occurrence Handle10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1997)123:1(93)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • John, E. 1994. The study of variations of domestic points piped water quality in Majumba Sita Squatter Area, Dar es Salaam. Dissertation, Department of Environmental Engineering, Ardhi Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • R. H. Kadlec R. L. Knight (1996) Treatment wetlands CRC Press/Lewis Publishers Boca Raton, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • R. H. Kadlec R. L. Knight J. Vyamazal H. Brix P. Cooper R. Haberl (2000) Constructed wetlands for water pollution control: processes, performance, design and operation. IWA Specialist Group on Use of Macrophytes in Water Pollution Control, Scientific and Technical Report No. 8 IWA Publishing London

    Google Scholar 

  • M. M. Karpiscak L. R. Sancez R. J. Freitas C. P. Gerba (2002) ArticleTitleRemoval of bacteria indicators and pathogens from dairy wastewater by a multicomponent treatment system Water Science and Technology 44 IssueID11/12 183–190

    Google Scholar 

  • M. E. Kaseva T. S. A. Mbwette J. H. Y. Katima D. A. Mashauri S. E. Jorgense (2002a) Performance of horizontal-flow-subsurface constructed wetlands in the removal of total and faecal coliforms from pretreated domestic wastewater effluent in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania T. S. A. Mbwette J. Katima S. Jorgensen (Eds) Application of wetland systems and waste stabilization ponds in water pollution control IKR, Dar es Salaam Tanzania

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaseva, M. E., T. S. A. Mbwette, and J. H. Y. Katima. 2002b. Domestic sewage treatment in a pilot plant composed of septic tank and constructed wetlands—A case study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In 8th IWA Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, Arusha, Tanzania

  • D. A. Mashauri D. M. M. Mulungu B. S. Abdulhussein (2002) ArticleTitleConstructed wetlands at the University of Dar es Salaam Water Research 34 IssueID4 1135–1144 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0043-1354(99)00238-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mato, R. A. M., G. R. Kassenga, and S. E. Mbuligwe. 1997. The environmental profile of Tanzania. Report submitted to Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Mbuligwe, S. E. 2000. The need for integrated water supply and sanitation services provision in developing countries: A case study of Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Pages 1–15 in IWA Conference on Managing Water Supply and Waste in the New Millennium, the Challenges for Developing Countries, Part 3A–4, Midrand/Johannesburg, South Africa, organized and sponsored by IWA/WISA

  • Mbuligwe, S. E. 2003. Assessment of performance and potential of wetland systems in wastewater treatment, pollution control, and resource recovery in Tanzania. Research report. Department of Environmental Engineering, UCLAS, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameMetcalf and Eddy (1991) Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse EditionNumber3 Tata McGraw-Hill Book Co New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameMetcalf and Eddy (2003) Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse EditionNumber4 McGraw-Hill New York

    Google Scholar 

  • S. M. Mgana (2003) Towards sustainable and robust on-site domestic wastewater treatment for all citizens. PhD thesis Wageningen University The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • S. C. Reed R. W. Crites E. J. Middlebrooks (1995) Natural systems for waste management and treatment, 2nd ed McGraw-Hill New York

    Google Scholar 

  • D. M Sievers (Eds) (1999) On-site wastewater treatment. Proceedings of the 8th national symposium on individual and small community sewerage systems, March 8–10, 1998 Orlando Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Stoll T. Jenkins J. Williams M. Bahgat E. May M. Ford J. Butler (1995) Pathogen removal and microbial ecology in gravel bed hydroponics (GBH). Treatment of Wastewater University of Portsmouth Portsmouth

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Zdragas G. C. Zalidis V. Takavakoglou S. Kalsavouni E. T. Anastsiadis K. Eskridge (2002) ArticleTitleThe effect of environmental conditions on the ability of constructed wetlands to disinfect municipal wastewaters Environmental Management 29 IssueID4 510–515 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00267-001-0010-6 Occurrence Handle12071501

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the government and people of Sweden for providing research funding through the SIDA/Sarec project through UCLAS. I also would like to thank UCLAS for availing me the opportunity to carry out this study. I am very grateful to Telesphory Lufatiye, who undertook most of the monitoring for this study.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Stephen E. Mbuligwe

    Present address: Stephen E. Mbuligwe, 3650 Nicholson Dr., Apartment # 2131, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering Faculty of Lands and Environmental Engineering, University College of Lands and Architectural Studies, P. O. Box 35176, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Stephen E. Mbuligwe

Authors
  1. Stephen E. Mbuligwe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen E. Mbuligwe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mbuligwe, S.E. Applicability of a Septic Tank/Engineered Wetland Coupled System in the Treatment and Recycling of Wastewater from a Small Community. Environmental Management 35, 99–108 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0174-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0174-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation