Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2021 211
Copyright © 2021 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Development of a community system for water
reclamation from grey water in Gujba: a conceptual
method
M.S. Lawan* and S.S. Surendran
Coventry University,
Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
Email: lawanm3@uni.coventry.ac.uk
Email: ab9618@coventry.ac.uk
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Water scarcity and pollution have been a reality in many African
countries. Reclaimed greywater reuse for non-potable purpose such as toilet
flushing and irrigation are among the options to reduce the consumption of
potable water and control environmental pollution. However, developing
reliable and sustainable reclamation system at the rural community level is
always a challenge. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the short term
performance of a rice husk for greywater reclamation in Gujba, Nigeria.
Results of the questionnaire survey indicated that maximum greywater
generation was 720l/day per household. About 95% of the people have
indicated social acceptability for reclaimed greywater reuse. Turbidity and total
suspended solids of the greywater were 427.6NTU and 5.84 Mg/l respectively.
Rice husk, rice husk charcoal and granular activated carbon were examined at
rapid and slow flows of 3.207L/h and 0.534L/h respectively. The average
removal efficiencies of rice husk for turbidity and total suspended solids were
81.81% and 86.47% respectively.
Keywords: greywater characteristics; social acceptability; non-potable uses;
treatment; systems; rice husk; Gujba.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Lawan, M.S.
and Surendran, S.S. (2021) ‘Development of a community system
for water reclamation from grey water in Gujba: a conceptual method’,
Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp.211–223.
Biographical notes: M.S. Lawan holds an MSc in Petroleum and
Environmental Technology from Coventry University (UK). He has been
currently working with the Desert Research and Monitoring Control Centre,
Yobe State University in Nigeria. As a registered member of the International
Water Association (IWA), his research interest includes environmental
applications including; wastewater treatment, pollution control and
environmental impact assessment (EIA).
S.S. Surendran is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Water Engineering at the
School of Energy, Construction and Environment Coventry University, in the
UK. He has more than 35 years of industry and academic experience on
innovation and development of water related, environmental and public health
engineering for risk resilience and sustainable development. Currently he is the
Director for Environmental Engineering, Coventry University, UK.
This paper is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled ‘Development
of a community system for water reclamation’ presented at International Young
Water Professional Conference, Toronto, 23–27 June 2019.