Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215
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Item Characteristics of greywater from different sources within households in a community in Durban, South Africa(IWA Publishing, 2017) Bakare, Babatunde F.; Mtsweni, Sphesihle; Rathilal, SudeshThe reuse of greywater is steadily gaining importance in South Africa. Greywater contains pollutants that could have adverse effects on the environment and public health if the water is not treated before reuse. Successful implementation of any greywater treatment process depends largely on its characteristics in terms of the pollutant strength. This study investigated the physico-chemical characteristics of greywater from different sources within 75 households in a community in Durban, South Africa. The study was undertaken to create an understanding of greywater quality from different sources within and between households. Greywater samples were collected from the kitchen, laundry and bathing facilities within each of the households. The samples were analysed for: pH, conductivity, turbidity, total solids, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). There was a significant difference in the parameters analysed between the greywater from the kitchen compared with the greywater from the bathtub/shower and laundry. It was also observed that the characteristics of greywater from the different households varied considerably. The characteristics of the greywater obtained in this study suggest that the greywater generated cannot be easily treatable using biological treatment processes and/or technologies due to the very low mean BOD : COD ratio (<0.5).Item A pilot study into public attitudes and perceptions towards greywater reuse in a low cost housing development in Durban, South Africa(IWA Publishing, 2016) Bakare, Babatunde F.; Mtsweni, Sphesihle; Rathilal, SudeshThe benefits of greywater reuse have been identified to include the protection of water resources, recovery of nutrients for agriculture, savings in fresh water usage, reduction in volumes of wastewater discharged into wastewater treatment works, groundwater recharge and sustainable water resource management. An understanding of public attitude and perceptions towards the reuse of greywater will help to facilitate a positive reaction to the promotion of such concepts. The study involved administering of structured questionnaires to residents within the community through field visits. The questionnaire addressed issues related to attitudes towards the reuse of greywater, perceived advantages related to the reuse of greywater and concerns related to public health issues regarding the reuse of greywater. A total number of 346 questionnaires were administered and respondents were aged from less than 19 to over 60 years. Of the respondents, 55% were female and 45% male. The findings revealed a complex and shifting relationship between attitudes towards and perception of the reuse of greywater. This paper thus presents the findings and assesses certain aspects of greywater reuse.