Improvement of the microbiological quality of wastewater using bio-sand filter as a point-of-use water treatment technology

Abstract

This work purposes to identify the physicochemical and morphological characteristics of three different type of Ouargla sand (South of Algeria) which is dune sand, medium and coarse sand from three different region, Sidi Khouiled, Hassi sayeh and Touggourt respectively and assess its potential use for the improvement of the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of treated wastewater at Said Otba station (Ouargla, South of Algeria) as a Bio-Sand Filter (BSF).

The SEM surface imaging shows the presence of different shapes and sizes of the three types of sand grains. The EDX/XRD of the three types of sand reveals the presence of SiO₂ (α-quartz), Al₂O₃, and others oxides such as Iron, Magnesium and Calcium oxides. 

According to the advanced methods which its costs are exorbitant, the results obtained in three types of optimized sand filters conditions were satisfactory, and shows that the rate of abatement for ESM, COD and BOD₅ were 92.54%, 83.72% and 85.54% respectively. The elimination of N  and N  were 97.67% and 92.06% respectively. Total germ (GT) elimination rate, total coliforms (CT) and fecal (CF), fecal streptococci (SF) percent.