Domestic Greywater Generation Rates in a Tropical Peri-Urban Residential Community: Evidence from the National Water Resources Institute Residential Units, Kaduna, Nigeria

Hadiza Nuhu Ajoge, Rabia Lawal Batagarawa, Saminu Ahmed, Sani Dauda Ahmed

Abstract


Domestic greywater represents a significant but underutilized fraction of household wastewater in rapidly urbanizing regions, particularly in developing countries where centralized sanitation infrastructure is limited (Eriksson et al., 2002; Oteng-Peprah et al., 2018). This study quantified domestic greywater generation rates and assessed associated influencing factors in a tropical peri-urban residential community using the residential units of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, Nigeria, as a case study. Greywater generated from non-toilet household activities (bathing, laundry, dishwashing, and food preparation) was measured through direct field monitoring over 30 consecutive days for a resident population of 50 persons. Daily inflows were corrected for evaporation losses and rainfall contributions using on-site meteorological data, consistent with recommended field measurement practices for household wastewater studies (Abed et al., 2020). Results indicated a total greywater generation of 81,601 L during the study period, corresponding to a mean per-capita generation rate of 54.4 L/person/day, with daily net inflows ranging from 2,550 to 3,005 L/day. The observed generation rate reflects moderate household water use influenced by water availability, infrastructural access and socio-economic conditions typical of peri-urban settlements in sub-Saharan Africa (Ahmad & Daura, 2019; Pinto et al., 2021). Comparative analysis showed that the measured values align with reported ranges for similar tropical residential contexts (Oteng-Peprah et al., 2018; Abed et al., 2020). The findings provide robust, site-specific design inputs for optimizing small-scale constructed wetlands for domestic greywater treatment and reuse, particularly regarding hydraulic loading rates, retention time, wetland sizing and macrophyte selection, which supports decentralized sanitation planning in line with Citywide Inclusive Sanitation principles (WHO, 2017; UN-Water, 2023). 


Full Text:

PDF

References


Abed, S. N., Scholz, M., & Al-Fatlawi, H. J. (2020). Greywater generation and reuse: A review. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 20, 101064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.101064

Adelekan, B. A., & Ogunsola, A. M. (2012). The role of household sanitation in urban environmental management. Journal of Environmental Management, 101, 98–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.01.029

Adindu, C. (2023). Informal wastewater disposal practices in Nigerian cities. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(4), 412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11046-2

Ahmad, A., & Daura, M. M. (2019). Domestic water use patterns in Nigerian cities. Water Practice & Technology, 14(3), 678–689. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2019.053

Al-Hamaideh, H., & Bino, M. (2010). Effect of treated greywater reuse in irrigation on soil and plants. Desalination, 256(1–3), 115–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2010.02.004

Amoah, P., Drechsel, P., Abaidoo, R. C., & Ntow, W. J. (2020). Pesticide and pathogen contamination of vegetables in urban markets in West Africa. Food Control, 110, 106963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2019.106963

Asare, K. O., Oduro-Kwarteng, S., & Donkor, E. A. (2023). Household greywater generation and reuse potential in peri-urban Ghana. Water Practice & Technology, 18(2), 523–536. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2023.041

Bakare, B. F., Foxon, K. M., Brouckaert, C. J., & Buckley, C. A. (2017). Variation in domestic wastewater quality in an informal settlement in Durban, South Africa. Water SA, 43(3), 473–483. https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.15

Crites, R. W., & Tchobanoglous, G. (1998). Small and decentralized wastewater management systems. McGraw-Hill.

Eriksson, E., Auffarth, K., Henze, M., & Ledin, A. (2002). Characteristics of grey wastewater. Urban Water, 4(1), 85–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1462-0758(01)00064-4

Ghaitidak, D. M., & Yadav, K. D. (2013). Characteristics and treatment of greywater—A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20, 2795–2809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1533-0

Gross, A., Shmueli, O., Ronen, Z., & Raveh, E. (2015). Recycled greywater irrigation: Field studies. Water Research, 45(17), 5929–5938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.08.019

Kadlec, R. H., & Wallace, S. D. (2009). Treatment wetlands (2nd ed.). CRC Press.

Langergraber, G., & Dotro, G. (2019). Wetland technology—Practical information. Water, 11(1), 109. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11010109

Li, F., Wichmann, K., & Otterpohl, R. (2019). Review of the technological approaches for greywater treatment and reuse. Science of the Total Environment, 706, 135-152.

Maimon, A., Friedler, E., & Gross, A. (2010). Parameters affecting greywater quality and its safety for reuse. Science of the Total Environment, 408(6), 1318–1326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.11.025

Mathew, T. O., Adewumi, J. R., & Adeniran, A. E. (2023). Assessment of household greywater generation and reuse potential in Ibadan, Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(2), 189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10844-7

Mekonnen, M. M., Gerbens-Leenes, P. W., & Hoekstra, A. Y. (2018). The consumptive water footprint of households. Water Research, 146, 132–140.

Metcalf & Eddy. (2014). Wastewater engineering: Treatment and resource recovery (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Oduro-Kwarteng, S., Awuah, E., & Donkor, E. A. (2017). Greywater reuse potential in urban households in Ghana. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 7(3), 480–490. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2017.029

Oke, I. A., Oyediran, A. A., & Adewumi, J. R. (2016). Greywater generation and reuse potential in peri-urban Lagos. Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination, 6(3), 375–386. https://doi.org/10.2166/wrd.2015.160

Oteng-Peprah, M., Acheampong, M. A., & de Vries, N. K. (2018). Greywater characteristics, treatment systems, reuse strategies and user perception—A review. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 229, 255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3909-8

Otieno, F. A. O., & Omole, D. O. (2017). Greywater management in informal settlements. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 100, 218–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2017.04.007

Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. L., & Grewal, H. S. (2021). Greywater reuse: Generation, treatment and management. Water Research, 188, 116543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116543

Rodda, N., Carden, K., Armitage, N., & du Plessis, H. (2011). Development of guidelines for greywater reuse. Water SA, 37(2), 225–234. https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v37i2.65887

Tchobanoglous, G., Burton, F. L., & Stensel, H. D. (2003). Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Tilley, E., Ulrich, L., Lüthi, C., Reymond, P., & Zurbrügg, C. (2022). Compendium of sanitation systems and technologies (2nd rev. ed.). Eawag.

UNEP. (2016). A snapshot of the world’s water quality: Towards a global assessment. United Nations Environment Programme.

UN-HABITAT. (2008). Constructed wetlands manual. United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

UN-Water. (2023). The United Nations world water development report 2023: Partnerships and cooperation for water. UNESCO.

Van de Walle, S. (2023). Decentralized sanitation systems and inclusive urban water management. Utilities Policy, 81, 101509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2023.101509

Vymazal, J. (2011). Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment: Five decades of experience. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(1), 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1021/es101403q

WHO. (2017). Guidelines on sanitation and health. World Health Organization.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.