DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A DOMESTIC SLOW SAND FILTER USING THE KUBANNI RIVER SAND AS A FILTER MEDIU

A portable slow sand filtration unit for domestic purposes has been des igned and constructed using locally sourced sand as the filter medium. The performance of this filter was also investigated in this study. In order to assess the performance of the slow sand filter t hat was constructed, samples were taken from both the influent and effluent and analysed for turbidity, total dissolved solids, pH and bacterial count. The raw water samples were obtained from Kubanni reservoir in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where the sand for the media was also obtained. The results of the wa ter quality analyses of the influent and effluent samples taken from the slow sand filtration system reflects that the bacteria count in the raw water reduced from 32.5 NTU (Nephlometer Turbidity Unit) to 12.40 NT U in the effluent. Also, the results indicates that the pH changed slightly in the raw water samples A and B from 7.72 to 6.98 and 7.49 to 6.96 respectively. Since the filtered water quality is within the drinking water quality standards stipulated by WHO, portable slow sand filteration units should be encouraged for dome stic purposes.