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Performance Evaluation of Biozyme 1070 as Organic Waste Degrader for Septic Tanks in High Water Table Areas of the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

David N Ogbonna

This study was carried out to evaluate performance of Biozyme 1070 used in the degradation of sewage organic wastes in septic tanks. The study is occasioned by the fact that most Niger Delta areas in Nigeria have waste management and disposal problems from sewage disposal systems due to high water table. In the same vein, there is also high probability of groundwater contamination with faecal wastes resulting in water borne diseases amongst our populations. Septic tanks close to public facilities such as motor parks, office complexes, student hostels and residential buildings were selected in Port Harcourt city for the exercise. Laboratory analysis of organic waste samples obtained from five (5) different septic tanks into a 20 litre sterile plastic buckets were employed using standard analytical methods before application of Biozyme powder in proportions stated by the manufactures and left for 48-72 hours. This involved the enumeration of total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform bacteria and Salmonella-Shigella bacteria using the ten-fold serial dilution procedure. In the case of total or faecal coliform bacteria, the most probable number (MPN) technique using multiple tables’ method was used. The range of results showed that the total heterotrophic bacteria increased from 3.1x106 to 14.4x106cfu/ml after application of Biozyme 1070, while Salmonella-Shigella bacteria decreased from12.0x104 to 1.52x104cfu/ml, total coliform bacteria also decreased from 29,000 to 18,000 coliform/100ml, while faecal coliform bacteria decreased from 16,000 to 12,000 coliform/100ml after 48 hours. Physical observation of the waste samples showed reasonable formulation of the waste which turned from semi liquid to completely liquid sample and became odourless. This paper recommends that to avoid contamination of drinking water sources and other problems, decongestion of onsite facilities in urban centres and construction of offsite network facilities (centralized treatment sewer system) in order to safeguard human health.