Author(s): Elena Kovács

Abstract: Greywater reuse has emerged as a sustainable strategy to alleviate freshwater scarcity, particularly in urban and peri-urban households. However, the adoption of greywater treatment systems remains limited due to high costs, operational complexity, and maintenance challenges. This research evaluates the performance of a low-cost household greywater filtration unit utilizing sand and charcoal as primary filtration media. The system was designed to treat greywater generated from bathing, laundry, and handwashing activities. Key physicochemical parameters, including turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease, were monitored to assess treatment efficiency. Experimental trials were conducted under controlled flow conditions to simulate typical household usage. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA, were applied to compare influent and effluent water quality and to determine the significance of pollutant removal. The results demonstrated substantial reductions in turbidity, TSS, BOD, COD, and oil and grease concentrations, with average removal efficiencies ranging between 65% and 75%. The sand-charcoal media showed consistent filtration performance across multiple operational cycles, indicating stability and reusability. Regression analysis further revealed a strong relationship between filtration depth and pollutant removal efficiency. The treated greywater met several non-potable reuse standards, particularly for applications such as toilet flushing, garden irrigation, and floor cleaning. The findings confirm that sand-charcoal filtration offers an effective, affordable, and environmentally sustainable option for decentralized greywater treatment. This research supports the feasibility of integrating low-cost filtration systems into household water management practices, especially in water-stressed regions. The outcomes contribute practical evidence for promoting decentralized greywater reuse as part of sustainable urban water solutions.

DOI: 10.22271/27078388.2026.v7.i1a.63

Pages: 25-28 | Views: 72 | Downloads: 58

Download Full Article: Click Here