The University of Nairobi recently opened a new 89-m high 22-storey building in the heart of
their main campus in Nairobi’s central business district. The building, which provides teaching
space for a student capacity of 3,500, asserts and affirm the position of the University of Nairobi
as a leader of architectural thought, innovation and champion towards the provision of
environmentally friendly-solutions. Key among the innovations and environmentally friendly
solutions is the set up and running of a sewage treatment plant with an average flow of 110
m3/d that has employed membrane bio reactor technology, which combines conventional
biological treatment processes with membrane filtration to provide an advanced level of organic
and suspended solids removal. The MBR plant was designed to produce effluent of high-quality
standards to be reused for flushing toilets and other purposes. This study was carried out to
assess the experience in operation, maintenance and performance of the MBR plant and the
suitability of treated water for reuse and recycling. Samples of raw sewage water and treated
water were taken from the plant and tested in laboratory to analyse the efficiency of wastewater
treatment by MBR technology. The changes in wastewater composition were evaluated by
measuring changes in the total amount of organic matter in terms of BOD, COD, suspended
solids (SS), content of raw water and treated water samples. The Plant exhibited good
performance in removal of organics, solids, nutrients, micro-organisms, etc. and operates
satisfactorily in producing effluent of high quality standards to be reused for irrigation, flushing
and other purposes.

The University of Nairobi recently opened a new 89-m high 22-storey building in the heart of
their main campus in Nairobi’s central business district. The building, which provides teaching
space for a student capacity of 3,500, asserts and affirm the position of the University of Nairobi
as a leader of architectural thought, innovation and champion towards the provision of
environmentally friendly-solutions. Key among the innovations and environmentally friendly
solutions is the set up and running of a sewage treatment plant with an average flow of 110
m3/d that has employed membrane bio reactor technology, which combines conventional
biological treatment processes with membrane filtration to provide an advanced level of organic
and suspended solids removal. The MBR plant was designed to produce effluent of high-quality
standards to be reused for flushing toilets and other purposes. This study was carried out to
assess the experience in operation, maintenance and performance of the MBR plant and the
suitability of treated water for reuse and recycling. Samples of raw sewage water and treated
water were taken from the plant and tested in laboratory to analyse the efficiency of wastewater
treatment by MBR technology. The changes in wastewater composition were evaluated by
measuring changes in the total amount of organic matter in terms of BOD, COD, suspended
solids (SS), content of raw water and treated water samples. The Plant exhibited good
performance in removal of organics, solids, nutrients, micro-organisms, etc. and operates
satisfactorily in producing effluent of high quality standards to be reused for irrigation, flushing
and other purposes.