FAECAL SLUDGE ECO-TREATMENT DESIGN SYSTEM PROPOSAL IN A TROPICAL CLIMATE: CASE STUDY OF BAFOUSSAM WESTERN- CAMEROON

In order to propose an eco-technological approach for the treatment of faecal sludge in the city of Bafoussam, which takes into consideration the physicochemical, bacteriological and climatic parameters of the city of Bafoussam, the approach used can be adapted to another context through parametric adjustments. To carry out this study, we opted to design an autonomous treatment system on a planted drying bed. For this, we first analyzed the physicochemical characteristics, namely: Total solid (TS), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Hydrogen Potential (pH), Orthophosphates, Nitrate and bacteriological (Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus) of Faecal Sludge (FS) in order to determine the quantity of sludge and the quantity of polluting material. In view of faecal sludge characteristics, we opted for the sizing of the different compartments of the station (bar screen, storage basin, drying beds and lagoons). Considering population growth, the amount of mechanically drainable sludge by 2032 is estimated at 28539.30 m3. year-1. For the treatment of this quantity of faecal sludge, it will be necessary, according to the calculations, to treat 110.73 t. year-1 of dry matter for a surface load of 200 kg.m-3. year-1 and a pollutant load of 38.8 kg/ MS /m 3. Regarding the area required to contain all the compartments of the station, it will be necessary to provide 5536.62 m2.