Microbial water quality of treated water and raw water sources in the Harare area, Zimbabwe
- Chirenda, Tatenda G, Srinivas, Sunitha C, Tandlich, Roman
- Authors: Chirenda, Tatenda G , Srinivas, Sunitha C , Tandlich, Roman
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76206 , vital:30520 , http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v41i5.12
- Description: Microbial water quality is an essential aspect in the provision of potable water for domestic use. The provision of adequate amounts of safe water for domestic purposes has become difficult for most municipalities mandated to do so in Zimbabwe. Morton-Jaffray Treatment Plant supplies potable water to Harare City and areas surrounding Harare. This study investigated microbial water quality and the impact of microbial water quality related disasters in the area supplied by the Morton Jaffray Treatment Plant. Questionnaires were distributed to household owners in Harare who receive their water from the Municipality and those who use alternate water supplies. Candidates were randomly selected from their workplace. The raw water quality of Manyame River and its tributaries was assessed. Treated water in households was assessed for microbial quality using hydrogen sulphide test and heterotrophic bacteria plate count. Raw water sources were found to be contaminated by faecal matter. Household water sources tested negative for faecal contamination but positive for heterotrophic bacteria. CFU quantities ranged from 1 to 452 CFU/m. for all samples. The WHO guidelines for domestic water sources state that water used for domestic purposes should not be contain than 100 CFU/m.. Public perceptions of water quality ranged from eunsafef to ehighly contaminatedf. A decrease in the level of aesthetic appeal resulted in residents resorting to alternative sources such as wells and rivers for their domestic water. The current state of treated water was suitable for domestic use. Pathogen monitoring of domestic water is recommended using the hydrogen sulphide test and R2A agar test.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Chirenda, Tatenda G , Srinivas, Sunitha C , Tandlich, Roman
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76206 , vital:30520 , http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v41i5.12
- Description: Microbial water quality is an essential aspect in the provision of potable water for domestic use. The provision of adequate amounts of safe water for domestic purposes has become difficult for most municipalities mandated to do so in Zimbabwe. Morton-Jaffray Treatment Plant supplies potable water to Harare City and areas surrounding Harare. This study investigated microbial water quality and the impact of microbial water quality related disasters in the area supplied by the Morton Jaffray Treatment Plant. Questionnaires were distributed to household owners in Harare who receive their water from the Municipality and those who use alternate water supplies. Candidates were randomly selected from their workplace. The raw water quality of Manyame River and its tributaries was assessed. Treated water in households was assessed for microbial quality using hydrogen sulphide test and heterotrophic bacteria plate count. Raw water sources were found to be contaminated by faecal matter. Household water sources tested negative for faecal contamination but positive for heterotrophic bacteria. CFU quantities ranged from 1 to 452 CFU/m. for all samples. The WHO guidelines for domestic water sources state that water used for domestic purposes should not be contain than 100 CFU/m.. Public perceptions of water quality ranged from eunsafef to ehighly contaminatedf. A decrease in the level of aesthetic appeal resulted in residents resorting to alternative sources such as wells and rivers for their domestic water. The current state of treated water was suitable for domestic use. Pathogen monitoring of domestic water is recommended using the hydrogen sulphide test and R2A agar test.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Optimisation of the emulsion liquid membrane composition and demulsification for rhodium extraction
- Moyo, Francis, Tandlich, Roman
- Authors: Moyo, Francis , Tandlich, Roman
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76743 , vital:30626 , https://doi.org/10.1515/lwr-2015-0002
- Description: This study was aimed at designing an optimised emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) for the extraction of rhodium from precious metal refinery wastewaters. The demulsification process and the structure of the optimised ELM are reported on. Two optimised ELMs were prepared. The first one contained a 30 % solution of toluene in kerosene as diluent with the following concentrations of the ELM components: 30.000 g/L (w/v) polyisobutylene, 10.870 g/L (m/v) of trioctyl amine and 51.001 g/L (m/v) of SPAN 80. The second ELM contained the same diluent, but the concentrations of the other ELM components in it were as follows: 20.000 g/l of polyisobutylene, 10.268 g/l trioctyl amine and 50.024 g/l of SPAN 80. The stripping phase was the same in both optimised ELMs, namely a 2 M solution of HNO3. The stripping phase and the diluent solution were mixed together in ratios of 1:1 and 2:1, respectively. Two methods were used to characterise the microdroplet diameters, i.e. optical microscopy and the Zeta-sizer. For the t-test, the p-value of 0.3018 at 5 % level of significance showed that there was statistically no significant difference in the mean micro-droplet size for 1:2 ELMs containing 20 g/l and 30 g/l of polyisobutylene after 40 minutes of emulsification. The best demulsification results were obtained using the chemical demulsification with polyethylene glycol with molecular weight of 400 g/mol (PEG 400) at 50 ± 1 °C for 24 hours. However, significant carryover of toluene, trioctyl amine and polyethylene glycol into the aqueous phase was observed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Moyo, Francis , Tandlich, Roman
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76743 , vital:30626 , https://doi.org/10.1515/lwr-2015-0002
- Description: This study was aimed at designing an optimised emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) for the extraction of rhodium from precious metal refinery wastewaters. The demulsification process and the structure of the optimised ELM are reported on. Two optimised ELMs were prepared. The first one contained a 30 % solution of toluene in kerosene as diluent with the following concentrations of the ELM components: 30.000 g/L (w/v) polyisobutylene, 10.870 g/L (m/v) of trioctyl amine and 51.001 g/L (m/v) of SPAN 80. The second ELM contained the same diluent, but the concentrations of the other ELM components in it were as follows: 20.000 g/l of polyisobutylene, 10.268 g/l trioctyl amine and 50.024 g/l of SPAN 80. The stripping phase was the same in both optimised ELMs, namely a 2 M solution of HNO3. The stripping phase and the diluent solution were mixed together in ratios of 1:1 and 2:1, respectively. Two methods were used to characterise the microdroplet diameters, i.e. optical microscopy and the Zeta-sizer. For the t-test, the p-value of 0.3018 at 5 % level of significance showed that there was statistically no significant difference in the mean micro-droplet size for 1:2 ELMs containing 20 g/l and 30 g/l of polyisobutylene after 40 minutes of emulsification. The best demulsification results were obtained using the chemical demulsification with polyethylene glycol with molecular weight of 400 g/mol (PEG 400) at 50 ± 1 °C for 24 hours. However, significant carryover of toluene, trioctyl amine and polyethylene glycol into the aqueous phase was observed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Survival of bifidobacteria and their usefulness in faecal source tracking
- Luyt, Catherine D, Khamanga, Sandile M, Muller, Wilhelmine J, Tandlich, Roman
- Authors: Luyt, Catherine D , Khamanga, Sandile M , Muller, Wilhelmine J , Tandlich, Roman
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76117 , vital:30508 , https://doi.org/10.1515/lwr-2015-0001
- Description: Bifidobacteria have long since been recommended as indicators of human and animal pollution. Concentration ratio (tracking ratio) of the sorbitol-utilising bifidobacteria (SUB) and the total bifidobacteria (TB) can be used to distinguish between animal and human sources of faecal water contamination. The cut-off value needs to be calibrated in a given geographical area. Seven sites with permanent faecal contamination were selected in South Africa. Concentrations of SUB ranged from 10-50000 cells/100 mL, while TB ranged from 0-8000 cells/100 mL. The tracking ratio ranged from 0.10 to 6.25, but no clear cut-off value could be established. The YN-17 agar was replaced for TB with the modified Beerens medium with pH = 5.70, to suppress the growth of faecal streptococci. Tracking ratios observed are most likely the results of different survival rates of SUB and TB. Bifidobacteria die-off due to nutrients was not found to be significant using design of experiment. Thus a lack of continuous input or oxygen levels in water may be major factors. This would limit the ratios used as a faecal source tracking method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Luyt, Catherine D , Khamanga, Sandile M , Muller, Wilhelmine J , Tandlich, Roman
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76117 , vital:30508 , https://doi.org/10.1515/lwr-2015-0001
- Description: Bifidobacteria have long since been recommended as indicators of human and animal pollution. Concentration ratio (tracking ratio) of the sorbitol-utilising bifidobacteria (SUB) and the total bifidobacteria (TB) can be used to distinguish between animal and human sources of faecal water contamination. The cut-off value needs to be calibrated in a given geographical area. Seven sites with permanent faecal contamination were selected in South Africa. Concentrations of SUB ranged from 10-50000 cells/100 mL, while TB ranged from 0-8000 cells/100 mL. The tracking ratio ranged from 0.10 to 6.25, but no clear cut-off value could be established. The YN-17 agar was replaced for TB with the modified Beerens medium with pH = 5.70, to suppress the growth of faecal streptococci. Tracking ratios observed are most likely the results of different survival rates of SUB and TB. Bifidobacteria die-off due to nutrients was not found to be significant using design of experiment. Thus a lack of continuous input or oxygen levels in water may be major factors. This would limit the ratios used as a faecal source tracking method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »