SUITABILITY OF BIOSOLID PRODUCED AT WUPA SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AS ALTERNATIVE TO ORGANIC FERTILIZER IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the suitability of biosolid produced at Wupa Sewage Treatment Plant as alternative to organic fertilizer in Abuja, Nigeria. Data was sourced from primary and secondary sources; primary sources were from the field and pictorial evidence while secondary sources were from published and unpublished materials such as journals, textbooks, research projects, among others. Two sludge samples were taken from the disposal dry bed about 10m apart using a stainless-steel trowel and 500ml glass beakers. Simple random sampling was used to select sixty-six respondents in the waste water treatment plant. The result shows that fresh sludge recorded highest value for Electrical Conductivity (EC) (560 μs/cm), organic content (41%), total nitrogen (4.69%) and total phosphorus (1.93g/kg), while dry sludge recorded highest value of pH (6.25), bulk density (1.80mg/m3), and water holding capacity (54.49%). The result show that only dry sludge recorded value (12cfu/g) for E. coli, Fresh sludge lacks salmonella and E. coli while dry sludge lack salmonella. The highest value for Cadmium (0.2310g/kg), Copper (1.2417g/kg), Iron (1.2184g/kg) and Lead (0.2800g/kg) was recorded on fresh sludge. Result shows that the value of Iron (1.22g/kg and 1.22 g/kg) and Lead (0.28g/kg and 0.26g/kg) in sludge in fresh and dried sludge and E.coli (12cfu/g) on dry sludge in the study area is higher than Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) safety limit for sludge. The result further shows that there is no significant difference between properties of sludge obtained in the study area and soil requirement by Federal Ministry of Environment. Therefore, presence of pollutants especially the heavy metals in sludge should be remediated and taken into account in the scientific debate concerning the use of sewage sludge in agriculture and there must be continuous monitoring of the heavy metal pollutant in the sludge before application to farm land or disposed, so as to reduce soil pollution and reduce intake of heavy metal of the crop production.

Keywords: Alternative and Organic Fertilizer, Biosolid, Federal Capital Territory, Sludge, Suitability, Treatment Plant