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Integration of water hyacinth plants into waste stabilization ponds: a case study of Donnybrook 4 Sewage Ponds in Mabvuku-Tafara, Harare, Zimbabwe

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Abstract

Donnybrook Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) are overloaded and water hyacinth plants have infested the ponds. The study assessed the feasibility of integrating the problematic water hyacinth plants into the current treatment process. Grab samples of influent and effluent for each pond were collected between 28 March and 23 April 2019 and the analysis was done following standard APHA methods. Parameters considered include pH, turbidity, TDS, TSS, TN, TP, BOD, and COD. The raw sewage mean pH, turbidity, TDS, TSS, TN, TP, BOD, and COD were 8.08, 580 NTU, 1639 mg/L, 1294 mg/L, 78 mg/L, 8.16 mg/L, 287 mg/L, and 887 mg/L. The mean pH, turbidity, TDS, TSS, TN, TP, BOD, and COD in the effluent from the existing maturation pond, control pilot pond, and water hyacinth pilot pond were 7.7, 7.7, and 7.3; 75, 67, and 47 NTU; 861, 758, and 668 mg/L; 276, 172, and 82 mg/L; 27, 28, and 17 mg/L; 4, 5.28, and 4 mg/L; 114, 52, and 30 mg/L; and 243, 122, and 81 mg/L. It was concluded that the water hyacinth may be integrated into the WSP system to enhance contaminant removal. The water hyacinth in the ponds should be harvested periodically to avoid secondary organic and nutrient loading from dead plants.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study is available upon request from the authors.

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Funding

The research was partly funded by the authors and the laboratory facilities were provided by the University of Zimbabwe, Civil Engineering Department. Mr. M. Souta and Mr. O. Kativhu assisted in laboratory analysis.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Zvikomborero Hoko & Tariro N. Toto

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  1. Zvikomborero Hoko
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  2. Tariro N. Toto
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Correspondence to Tariro N. Toto.

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Hoko, Z., Toto, T.N. Integration of water hyacinth plants into waste stabilization ponds: a case study of Donnybrook 4 Sewage Ponds in Mabvuku-Tafara, Harare, Zimbabwe. Environ Monit Assess 192, 625 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08579-6

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