A Few Important Notes Regarding Municipal Water Treatment In Kenya

By Betty Murray


Treatment of water is essential in making it safe for human consumption. Other than drinking, it is important to treat it for other domestic purposes such as washing, cooking and even for use by animals . Hard water may not lather easily when washing clothes. Untreated water used for bathing can result in skin infections and allergies. Municipal water treatment in Kenya should be given utmost consideration in all places across the country to safeguard the lives of citizens.

The process involves various steps including chlorination, aeration, filtration and sedimentation. The method of choice depends on what harmful substance is being eliminated. Aeration and chlorination remove dissolved manganese and iron. Filtration and sedimentation are ideal for large particles. In addition to getting rid of elements, chlorination also helps in doing away with algae. Other types of microbes are dealt with through disinfection.

Large particles are better treated with filtration combined with sedimentation while dissolved substances such as iron and manganese are done away with through chlorination and aeration. Chlorination additionally serves the purpose of eliminating plants that grow in aquatic environments, commonly referred to as algae. Disinfectants help in treating against microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa.

Waterborne diseases in developing countries such as Kenya have been attributed to failure to have a proper treatment process. There is a very high mortality rate associated with dirty water particularly among young children. This can be reversed through creation of robust treatment programs at local level. The community needs to be educated on ways to keep the commodity safe for use.

High consumption of energy during treatment may be one of the reasons why municipal treatment plants fail. The country may not have enough resources to cater for electricity costs that go into this activity. As such, alternative ways to save electricity costs need to be looked into.

Electricity is the main source of energy for running treatment plants. When it is to be done on a large scale, it becomes quite expensive for the companies involved. Renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind energy should be embraced whenever possible to lower these costs. In Kenya, geothermal power is available in plenty and all that is needed is more investment and it will prove to be a cheaper alternative to hydro-power.

The sand in the slow sand filters system is not the real filter. It only acts as a substrate for the actual filter. The real filter is a biological film that exists naturally in the sand. The system is usually dug one to two meters below the ground. It can either be rectangular or cylindrical in shape.Such a system is simple, cheap and can easily be taught to rural communities.

In summary, various approaches are available for treating drinking water and effluent. They may be chemical, biological or electrical. Unfortunately, while use of electricity may be fast and suitable for large scale treatment, it consumes very large amounts of energy. Biological method should be considered strongly as they help in saving electricity costs.




About the Author:



No comments: