Septic Tank–Soakpit Systems in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 123, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper discusses the impact of septic tank–soakpit systems widely used on the shallow unconfined aquifer at Sinza ward in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Sinza is a hot climate, high-density area with household plots of limited area. From investigations on the shallow aquifer at Sinza, the ground water was observed to have the same quality as the septic-tank effluent, thus indicating that the ground water was heavily contaminated by the septic effluent. This suggests that the septic tank–soakpit systems failed to sufficiently treat the domestic wastewater effluent.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Gondwe, E. S. (1983). “Improvement of the University of Dar es Salaam main campus water supply.”Consultancy Rep. No. CW:83:03, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
2.
Mara, D. (1976). Sewage treatment in hot climates. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y.
3.
Masilingi, W. E. (1992). “Legal aspects on environmental protection.”Proc., Seminar on Envir. Pollution and Mgmt. in Eastern Africa.
4.
Mnzava, J. L. (1985). “The distribution, chemistry and origin of the saline groundwater in Dar es Salaam area,” MSc thesis, Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
5.
Mwanuzi, F. L., Mbwette, T. S. A., and Gondwe, E. S. (1994). “Groundwater pollution from septic tank systems in selected areas of the city of Dar es Salaam.”Res. Rep. No. FOE/CE/RR/13/94, Facu. of Engrg., Univ. of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
6.
Perkins, R. J.(1984). “Septic tank lot size and pollution of water table aquifers.”J. Envir. Health, 46, 298–304.
7.
Robertson, W. D., Cherry, J. A., and Sudicky, E. A.(1991). “Groundwater contamination from two small septic systems on sandy aquifers.”Ground Water, 1, 82–92.
8.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). (1980). “Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems.”Technical and transfer design manual, Ofc. of Water Program Operation, Cincinnati, Ohio.
9.
Wilson, F. (1981). Design calculations in waste water treatment. E&F.N. Spon Ltd., London, England.
10.
Yhdego, M.(1989). “Waste stabilisation ponds in Tanzania.”J. Waterlines, 8, 10–12.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jan 1, 1997
Published in print: Jan 1997
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.