Principal Investigator
Abstract
Bio-digesters, onsite sanitation utilities, are an emerging domestic wastewater treatment technology in Kenya. They treatdomestic wastewater in two processes namely, primary treatment and secondary treatment. Under primary treatment, blackwater enters a bio-digester tank where sedimentation and bio-degradation occur. The bio-degradation process is efficient that no exhauster services are required, which minimizes its maintenance costs as opposed to a septic tank.Several interviews were conducted at Kenya Cast Products, a bio-digester company, to obtain information on the system functionality and innovative features of a bio-digester that distinguish it from a septic tank. Questionnaires were also handed out to owners and users of bio-digesters to validate the claims from bio-digester companies.From the responses of users, a bio-digester is indeed a better onsite wastewater treatment solution to a septic tank. 91 percent of users would recommend a bio-digester to a person seeking an onsite wastewater solution, further confirming the satisfactory experience provided by a bio-digester. Therefore this study proposes a bio-digester as a better onsite domestic wastewater treatment solution to a septic tank.