Evaluation of the quality indices of the final effluents of two wastewater treatment plants in buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Osuolale, Olayinka O
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11292 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021079
- Description: Waste waters can be sources of pollution to surface water and the environment with severe implications for public health. Most treatment plants in the Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province discharge their treated effluent into the surface waters which directly and indirectly impacts on the quality of surface waters in the region. The objective of this study was to determine the microbiological and physicochemical qualities of the final effluents of two wastewater treatment plants in the Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa over a period of 12 months (September 2012 to August 2013). The qualities of the final effluents of WW-Ama Wastewater Treatment Plant with respect to phosphate (3.9 mg/l - 20.6 mg/l), free chlorine (0.05 mg/l - 0.71 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (4.7 mg/l - 211 mg/l), and faecal coliform (0 - 2.92 × 104 CFU/100 ml) were not in compliance with the permissible limits set for effluent discharged to surface water by South Africa guidelines for effluent discharge. Other physicochemical parameters like biological oxygen demand (BOD) (2.2 mg/l - 9.0 mg/l), total dissolve solid (TDS) (253 mg/l - 336.3 mg/l) and turbidity (4.8 NTU - 43.20 NTU) with no SA regulatory set limits were compared to other regulatory standards and they do not comply with the limits. Also, at the second WWTP’s, the WW-Dim Treatment Plant effluent quality for free chlorine (0.06 mg/l - 7.2 mg/l), BOD (0.1 mg/l - 7.4 mg/l), and turbidity (4.02 NTU - 24.3 NTU) also did not comply. For microbiological qualities, counts of presumptive E. coli and Vibrio ranged between 0 - 2.92 × PROFESSOR ANTHONY I. OKOHAntibiogram of the bacterial isolates were determined using the disk diffusion method. A total of 107 confirmed E. coli and 100 confirmed Vibrio spp. were used for this assay. Results of antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that 63.6% of the E. coli isolates were resistance to ampicillin while 49.5% were resistant to tetracycline and cephalothin. The least resistances were observed against gentamicin (3.7%) and cefotaxime (1.9%). No resistance was observed against meropenem. For the Vibrio spp, resistance was most frequently observed against tetracycline (38%) ampicillin (26%), chloramphenicol (16%), cefotaxime (14%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (13%) and the least resistance observed was against ciprofloxacin (1%). This study demonstrates that poorly treated wastewater effluent can be a source of eutrophic water with high nutrient levels and pathogenic bacteria and enteric viruses as well as antibiotic resistance determinants that could impact negatively on human health. The finding of this study also suggests that WWTPs have to be properly monitored and controlled to ensure compliance to set guidelines. This could be attained through the application of appropriate treatment processes, which will help to minimize possible dangers to public environment health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Osuolale, Olayinka O
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11292 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021079
- Description: Waste waters can be sources of pollution to surface water and the environment with severe implications for public health. Most treatment plants in the Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province discharge their treated effluent into the surface waters which directly and indirectly impacts on the quality of surface waters in the region. The objective of this study was to determine the microbiological and physicochemical qualities of the final effluents of two wastewater treatment plants in the Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa over a period of 12 months (September 2012 to August 2013). The qualities of the final effluents of WW-Ama Wastewater Treatment Plant with respect to phosphate (3.9 mg/l - 20.6 mg/l), free chlorine (0.05 mg/l - 0.71 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (4.7 mg/l - 211 mg/l), and faecal coliform (0 - 2.92 × 104 CFU/100 ml) were not in compliance with the permissible limits set for effluent discharged to surface water by South Africa guidelines for effluent discharge. Other physicochemical parameters like biological oxygen demand (BOD) (2.2 mg/l - 9.0 mg/l), total dissolve solid (TDS) (253 mg/l - 336.3 mg/l) and turbidity (4.8 NTU - 43.20 NTU) with no SA regulatory set limits were compared to other regulatory standards and they do not comply with the limits. Also, at the second WWTP’s, the WW-Dim Treatment Plant effluent quality for free chlorine (0.06 mg/l - 7.2 mg/l), BOD (0.1 mg/l - 7.4 mg/l), and turbidity (4.02 NTU - 24.3 NTU) also did not comply. For microbiological qualities, counts of presumptive E. coli and Vibrio ranged between 0 - 2.92 × PROFESSOR ANTHONY I. OKOHAntibiogram of the bacterial isolates were determined using the disk diffusion method. A total of 107 confirmed E. coli and 100 confirmed Vibrio spp. were used for this assay. Results of antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that 63.6% of the E. coli isolates were resistance to ampicillin while 49.5% were resistant to tetracycline and cephalothin. The least resistances were observed against gentamicin (3.7%) and cefotaxime (1.9%). No resistance was observed against meropenem. For the Vibrio spp, resistance was most frequently observed against tetracycline (38%) ampicillin (26%), chloramphenicol (16%), cefotaxime (14%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (13%) and the least resistance observed was against ciprofloxacin (1%). This study demonstrates that poorly treated wastewater effluent can be a source of eutrophic water with high nutrient levels and pathogenic bacteria and enteric viruses as well as antibiotic resistance determinants that could impact negatively on human health. The finding of this study also suggests that WWTPs have to be properly monitored and controlled to ensure compliance to set guidelines. This could be attained through the application of appropriate treatment processes, which will help to minimize possible dangers to public environment health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Mobile phones interaction techniques for second economy people
- Authors: Edim, Azom Emmanuel
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cell phone systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Human-computer interaction , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11392 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/519 , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cell phone systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Human-computer interaction , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Second economy people in developing countries are people living in communities that are underserved in terms of basic amenities and social services. Due to literacy challenges and user accessibility problems in rural communities, it is often difficult to design user interfaces that conform to the capabilities and cultural experiences of low-literacy rural community users. Rural community users are technologically illiterate and lack the knowledge of the potential of information and communication technologies. In order to embrace new technology, users will need to perceive the user interface and application as useful and easy to interact with. This requires proper understanding of the users and their socio-cultural environment. This will enable the interfaces and interactions to conform to their behaviours, motivations as well as cultural experiences and preferences and thus enhance usability and user experience. Mobile phones have the potential to increase access to information and provide a platform for economic development in rural communities. Rural communities have economic potential in terms of agriculture and micro-enterprises. Information technology can be used to enhance socio-economic activities and improve rural livelihood. We conducted a study to design user interfaces for a mobile commerce application for micro-entrepreneurs in a rural community in South Africa. The aim of the study was to design mobile interfaces and interaction techniques that are easy to use and meet the cultural preferences and experiences of users who have little to no previous experience of mobile commerce technology. And also to explore the potentials of information technologies rural community users, and bring mobile added value services to rural micro-entrepreneurs. We applied a user-centred design approach in Dwesa community and used qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect data for the design of the user interfaces (graphic user interface and voice user interface) and mobile commerce application. We identified and used several interface elements to design and finally evaluate the graphical user interface. The statistics analysis of the evaluation results show that the users in the community have positive perception of the usefulness of the application, the ease of use and intention to use the application. Community users with no prior experience with this technology were able to learn and understand the interface, recorded minimum errors and a high level of v precision during task performance when they interacted with the shop-owner graphic user interface. The voice user interface designed in this study consists of two flavours (dual tone multi-frequency input and voice input) for rural users. The evaluation results show that community users recorded higher tasks successes and minimum errors with the dual tone multi-frequency input interface than the voice only input interface. Also, a higher percentage of users prefer the dual tone multi-frequency input interface. The t-Test statistical analysis performed on the tasks completion times and error rate show that there was significant statistical difference between the dual tone multi-frequency input interface and the voice input interface. The interfaces were easy to learn, understand and use. Properly designed user interfaces that meet the experience and capabilities of low-literacy users in rural areas will improve usability and users‟ experiences. Adaptation of interfaces to users‟ culture and preferences will enhance information services accessibility among different user groups in different regions. This will promote technology acceptance in rural communities for socio-economic benefits. The user interfaces presented in this study can be adapted to different cultures to provide similar services for marginalised communities in developing countries
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Edim, Azom Emmanuel
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cell phone systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Human-computer interaction , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11392 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/519 , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cell phone systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Human-computer interaction , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Second economy people in developing countries are people living in communities that are underserved in terms of basic amenities and social services. Due to literacy challenges and user accessibility problems in rural communities, it is often difficult to design user interfaces that conform to the capabilities and cultural experiences of low-literacy rural community users. Rural community users are technologically illiterate and lack the knowledge of the potential of information and communication technologies. In order to embrace new technology, users will need to perceive the user interface and application as useful and easy to interact with. This requires proper understanding of the users and their socio-cultural environment. This will enable the interfaces and interactions to conform to their behaviours, motivations as well as cultural experiences and preferences and thus enhance usability and user experience. Mobile phones have the potential to increase access to information and provide a platform for economic development in rural communities. Rural communities have economic potential in terms of agriculture and micro-enterprises. Information technology can be used to enhance socio-economic activities and improve rural livelihood. We conducted a study to design user interfaces for a mobile commerce application for micro-entrepreneurs in a rural community in South Africa. The aim of the study was to design mobile interfaces and interaction techniques that are easy to use and meet the cultural preferences and experiences of users who have little to no previous experience of mobile commerce technology. And also to explore the potentials of information technologies rural community users, and bring mobile added value services to rural micro-entrepreneurs. We applied a user-centred design approach in Dwesa community and used qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect data for the design of the user interfaces (graphic user interface and voice user interface) and mobile commerce application. We identified and used several interface elements to design and finally evaluate the graphical user interface. The statistics analysis of the evaluation results show that the users in the community have positive perception of the usefulness of the application, the ease of use and intention to use the application. Community users with no prior experience with this technology were able to learn and understand the interface, recorded minimum errors and a high level of v precision during task performance when they interacted with the shop-owner graphic user interface. The voice user interface designed in this study consists of two flavours (dual tone multi-frequency input and voice input) for rural users. The evaluation results show that community users recorded higher tasks successes and minimum errors with the dual tone multi-frequency input interface than the voice only input interface. Also, a higher percentage of users prefer the dual tone multi-frequency input interface. The t-Test statistical analysis performed on the tasks completion times and error rate show that there was significant statistical difference between the dual tone multi-frequency input interface and the voice input interface. The interfaces were easy to learn, understand and use. Properly designed user interfaces that meet the experience and capabilities of low-literacy users in rural areas will improve usability and users‟ experiences. Adaptation of interfaces to users‟ culture and preferences will enhance information services accessibility among different user groups in different regions. This will promote technology acceptance in rural communities for socio-economic benefits. The user interfaces presented in this study can be adapted to different cultures to provide similar services for marginalised communities in developing countries
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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