Conference on Environmental Science and Technology

Designing and operating efficient greywater (GW) treatment processes demand well known characteristics. These characteristics depend on the GW source that is affected by the socioeconomic behaviors. The goal of this paper to measure and compare GW characteristics from three main sources in the southern part of the West Bank. These include shower, cloth washing machine and dishwashing sink. The study was performed through field sampling and laboratory analysis according to the applicable standard testing of each of the GW parameters. The investigated GW characteristic parameters included turbidity, pH, phosphate, ammonia, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), COD, and phosphorous content and total fecal coliform and E. coli. The results indicate that samples collected from dishwashing sink are highly contaminated with COD and turbidity among other samples. The findings indicate that GW from laundry washing is highly alkaline and more concentrated in dissolved solids and ammonia than the other two source. On the other hand, GW from shower contains more fecal matter than other sources. These parameters are comparable to previously reported values. Based on these findings, mechanical separation followed by adsorption on activated carbon is designed and tested. The technical feasibility of such a treatment option is confirmed.