Study on modified sand filtration towards water quality of wet market waste water

Abstract

Malaysia’s wet market scenery synonyms with unpleasant odour, dirty environment and the pathogen development. The purpose of this study is to apply physical treatment as a pre-treatment of waste water using a sand filtration and to choose the best composition of sand in order to treat wastewater based on BOD, COD, SS, AN, turbidity and pH. Usually wastewater from wet market disposed directly without any treatment. In this study, wet market Kangar has been chosen as a sampling location which was at the final discharge of the premise. There are various types of layers used in this study. Fine sand, coarse sand and activated carbon beds from rice husk and coconut shells sizing of 0.06 mm, 2.00 mm, and 0.08 mm each have been used as a medium. All six (6) parameters were tested in wastewater from the influent and effluent of modified sand filtration. The results show that after 10 weeks of treatment, the concentration of BOD, COD, SS, AN, turbidity and pH were reduced up to 86%, 85%, 63%, 88%, 73% and 6.45, respectively, the best composition of sand filtration in reading WQI parameter is sand filter added with rice husk. This composition is also complying with standard B of Environmental Quality Act, 1974. Besides that, WQI obtained in ranging from 12.77 to 36.81 with the highest WQI is recorded by sand filter added with rice husk. WQI reading for the renovation of sand that uses rice husk was better than all the other sand filtration of 36.81. This study has revealed that sand filtration has potential in treating wet market wastewater.