Use of Neem Leaf, Pawpaw Seed and Moringa Seed as Natural Coagulants for Surface Water Treatment

Abstract

Access to save water is a serious issue affecting people of all ages for those living in remote communities where availability of improved water sources is limited; the quality of water and its treatment has become an increasing concern in developing nations like Nigeria, where proper treatment is lacking. The high cost of treated water makes most people in rural communities to employ readily available sources which are of low quality exposing them to water borne diseases. This study assessed the use of natural coagulants such as: Papaya, Sodom apple, Neem, Moringa oleifera, in the treatment of surface water. Physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis before and after treatment with each coagulants was carried out.  Aluminum Sulphate was also used as a chemical coagulant. From the experiment Moringa seed was the best coagulant of all the seeds used to treat the water samples. The following parameters showed its result before and after treatment with Moringa oleifera: pH (7.6, 7.8), Total alkalinity (180, 126), Calcium hardness (156, 140), Calcium ion (62.4, 56), Magnesium hardness (14, 36), Magnesium ion (3.42, 8.78), Chloride (55, 62.8), Sulphate (50, 60), Silica (4, 2), COD (28.4, 4.13), Colour (50, 20), Turbidity (5.73, 3.98), Total solids (836, 696), Total suspended solid (642, 384), Total dissolved solid (194, 312), fell within the WHO guideline for drinking water except total hardness which is given as (170, 180). This could be as a result of high mineral content.  The result obtained for the heavy metals and bacteriological analysis also showed that Moringa oleifera was the most active agent of all the coagulant used. Therefore, Moringa seed can be used conveniently as an alternative to Aluminum sulphate for the treatment of surface water for drinking purposes without causing detrimental effect on human health.