Variation in the Quality of Treated Wastewater by Local Sand Filter: The Case of the Algerian Sahara Sand

Abstract

In urban areas, population growth generates significant amounts of wastewater that is treated in sewage treatment plants specialize or reject directly controlling interest in the natural environment. Many scientists are looking into the issue to try to find solutions to clean water and make it drinkable. We are interested in the technique of sand filtration (in the region southwest of Algeria), as an essential phase for the treatment of wastewater, such methods are known to be well suited to rural areas, since they have a good quality of treatment, a relatively simple operation and low maintenance. The method is based on the following principle: a slow filtration, water passes under a constant hydraulic load (30 cm water) the filter bed (60 cm of sand), the hydraulic load is kept constant during the experiment. A physicochemical analysis is performed on the water sample before and after filtration, the filter bed to give us a discount of around 50% in the levels of contaminant parameters such as NTK, Ammonium, Nitrate, and Nitrite. The reduction of BOD, COD and suspended solids is about 90%. It was observed a significant increase in the potassium from 33.19 mg/l to 99.89 mg/l.