Physico-chemical and Bacteriological Characterization of Hospital Effluents from Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital Treated in the UASB Pilot Reactor

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the wastewater from the BIAMBA Marie MUTOMBO hospital in terms of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters, and to set up a pilot UASB reactor to treat this water. Two methods were used to conduct the investigations: observation and experimentation. Observations focused on wastewater management at the hospital and its surroundings, up to the point of discharge into the receiving environment. The analysis revealed that some parameters, such as COD, BOD5, turbidity, phosphorus, coliforms and fecal streptococci, exceeded discharge standards. A pilot UASB reactor was therefore proposed to treat the wastewater from the hospital (HBMM). The results were satisfactory, with values in compliance with standards for hospital effluent discharges. At the outlet of the pilot reactor, physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters such as COD showed a reduction in pollutant load of 93.7%, BOD5 of 93.3%, TSS of 75%, turbidity of 98.6% and phosphorus showed a value in compliance with discharge standards, with a reduction of 50%. Fecal coliforms at the outlet showed an efficiency of 100% and fecal streptococci of 99.9%, proving the effectiveness of the UASB pilot system for treating hospital effluents from the hospital (HBMM). This study has therefore shown that the implementation of a UASB pilot reactor can contribute to improving efficiency in the treatment of wastewater from Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital.