BORDA SADC

Research on improvement of biogas generation

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:50:00 MEST

Hydrogen Sulphide Elimination from Biogas
by Ruben Zahlten,TED, Lesotho, and Christopher Kellner, WASAZA, Zambia

During its six year history Technologies for Economic Development (TED) has constructed over 120 DEWATS and biogas systems, the majority of which deal with wastewater treatment. In some cases the digesters are fed with sewage and animal manure which increases gas production considerably.

Fig 1: Zhong Zhao Brand JZT Desulfurization Tank, test setup at client’s home.

When the biogas is used for cooking the presence of Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) results in an unpleasant smell and causes the cast iron burner parts in direct contact with the biogas to corrode faster. This is particularly the case when pig manure is added as increased production of H₂S occurs.

School Sanitation in cooperation with Pestalozzi World

Mon, 3 May 2010 16:00:00 MEST

Water and Sanitation Association of Zambia (WASAZA)’s first DEcentralised WAsteWater Treatment System (DEWATS) project in Zambia
by Mulenga Kabwe, WASAZA, Zambia

In close cooperation with Pestalozzi World, the German Toilet Organization (GTO) and local partners, WASAZA has been able to implement its first DEWATS project; a sustainable sanitation concept at a peri-urban school in Lusaka, capital city of Zambia. The project contributes to a healthier and more dignified learning environment for more than 2000 school children and will set a good example for further projects.

Fertilizer Producing Toilet

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:40:00 MET

An example of Ecological Sanitation
by Christopher Kellner, WASAZA, Zambia

The Fertilizer Producing Toilet is an example of Ecological Sanitation. Ecological sanitation (ECOSAN) is an approach in which the nutrients from human and animal waste are recycled.

The toilet is designed to suit conditions where either digging a pit is difficult or where a dug-out pit without lining would collapse easily. It is aimed at providing a user-friendly approach to the utilization of by-products. The toilet prevents nutrients originating from urine (88%) and excreta (12%) trickling into the underground water body.

World Toilet Day in Macha Chiefdom-Choma

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:00:00 MET

Sanitation Champion Award: 19 November 2009
by Kabwe Mulenga, WASAZA, Zambia

Sanitation is a neglected issue but a crucial aspect of poverty and deprivation. World Toilet Day is held annually to draw attention to this vital part of life.

PICTURE 1: Chief Macha showing off his award to his subjects and delegates who had assembled in his chiefdom to celebrate World Toilet Day

Worldwide 2.5 billion people are without access to proper sanitation which endangers their health, strips their dignity and kills 1.8 million people, mostly children every year.

Sewage treatment with biogas generation and its uses

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:20:00 MET

Suggestions on the concept of gas connection for the P-Locsan Project
by Christopher Kellner, WASAZA, Zambia

The Pilot Projects on Low Cost Sanitation (P-Locsan), operated by the Devolution Trust Fund (DTF,) are considering the implementation of a technical innovation at all four sites (Kariba in Ndola, Kandundu in Solwezi, Kansuswa in Chingola and Libuyu in Livingstone).
This is the introduction of biogas plants used as intermediate settlers in the sewage transportation system (sewerage network).

Maendeleo ya secta ya maji Tanzania Development of the Tanzanian Water Sector

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:20:00 MET

Opening of the new SADC Regional Office in Dar es Salaam
by Julika Tribukait, SADC Regional Office, Tanzania

“Water is life and Sanitation is Humanity”, Prof. Mark J. Mwandosya, Minister for Water and Irrigation of Tanzania, stated in the Water Sector Status Report 2009.
As BORDA recently opened its new SADC Regional Office in Dar es salaam, Tanzania, a closer look at Tanzania and its water sector seems opportune.

Arrival of a new weltwaerts volunteer

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:20:00 MET

First experiences in Lesotho
by Ruben Zahlten, TED, Lesotho

Arrival
The flight from Johannesburg to Maseru took one hour. While standing in the queue for immigration I hurriedly put my tissue back in my pocket and said to myself: ”Don´t cough, otherwise the sceptical looking nurse in front of the first aid tent (which, I guessed was intended to protect Lesotho from the H1N1-virus) won’t allow you to enter the country!” However, after a few minutes, I was allowed to pass and the immigration process was completed without any difficulty.

UKZN involved in work to provide sanitation to communities in need

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:20:00 MET

by Chris Buckley (UKZN Durban)

UKZN's Pollution Research Group (PRG) is collaborating with two organisations in an effort to provide sanitation services to communities which have no such services. The relationship with the German-based NGO, Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) and the eThekwini Municipality's Water and Sanitation Unit began in 2004 at the EcoSan Conference in Durban. The PRG in conjunction with the Water Research Commission and eThekwini Water and Sanitation had been researching the anaerobic baffled reactor process for some years. BORDA on the other hand had been implementing their version of the decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS) for more than eight years. BORDA has more than 30 years of extensive experience in providing basic needs services to the unserved. It strives to introduce best practices in the field of decentralised wastewater management and sanitation. The NGO provided sanitation in Indonesia and India following the Tsunami as well as in Yogyakarta (Java) after a major earthquake. BORDA developed prefabricated DEWATS and toilet module solutions made from glass-fibre, ferro-cement or cargo container solutions.

UKZN's Pollution Research Group (PRG) is collaborating with two organisations in an effort to provide sanitation services to communities which have no such services.
The role players in the project are UKZN's Professor Chris Buckley, Mr Chris Brouckaert, Mrs Katherine Foxon, Mr Sudhir Pillay and Mr Joseph Bwapwa from the PRG in the School of Chemical Engineering, while Mr Andreas Schmidt and Mr Andy Ulrich represent BORDA. eThekwini Municipality Water and Sanitation Unit is represented by Mr Neil Macleod, Mr Bill Pfaff, Mr Rob Dyer, Mr Speedy Moodliar and Mr Teddy Gounden.

Training on construction of DEWATS in Zambia

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:40:00 MET

Mulenga Kabwe & Christopher Kellner

WASAZA and its partner BORDA in conjunction with Four Commercials Utilities (CUs) ;( Kafubu, Mulonga, SWSC and NWSC) conducted a training of about thirty participants from CUs and their respective communities, on how to construct DEWATS and get a useful gas as a by-product which we are calling Biogas.The training was conducted in Ndola hosted by Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company. Each CU had a representative and the trainers were from WASAZA. Devolution Trust Fund (DTF) funded the construction material and WASAZA/BORDA financed the training measure. The training was from 11^th May to 2^nd June 2009.
The training was limited on how to build a gas tight digester which is built along the sewer line, functioning as an intermediate settler. The settler will hold back all solids in the sewage so that the continuing flow is solid free. The design is such that the digester is hemispherical for gas tightness and has a conical base. Four layers of sewer will establish in the digester: solids at the bottom, liquid in the middle, swimming particles on top of the water and the gas in the upper part of the dome. The gas is produced by methane bacteria and “harvested” through a gas pipe connected on top of the digester, guiding the gas into a kitchen where it is used for cooking. The liquid layer with suspended particles continues to flow in sewer line and the solid remains at bottom which decomposes or digests forming the top layer (gas).

The trainees originate from different parts of Zambia and are also of different educational levels. Besides masons and plumbers, engineers and planners were also targeted to get practical exposure

WASAZA'S first Biogas-digester

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:50:00 MEST

By Christopher Kellner

An innovative project using sunflower and jatropha waste is helping to introduce biogas technology to Zambia.

Southern BioPower Ltd. is a Zambian company working with renewable energy in a variety of ways. Its main business interest is using jatropha oil for direct combustion in modified diesel engines. The company has just completed a 50 m³ biogas digester on its farm, which serves as a nucleus estate for Jatropha outgrowers.

The project design was done with the support of WASAZA and its partner BORDA while the work was carried out by local farm labour, supported by two experienced masons from TED-BORDA Lesotho.

The digester is the first phase of a larger plan which will be executed in three phases on the farm. For phase 1, the main feeding material is sunflower waste which is piled on the farm in huge quantities. In addition, a feedlot for 50 beef cattle, which will eventually expand to accommodate 100, has been erected just above the biogas plant. Once the dung flow is established, phase 2 of the project is to be added, with a 200cbm digester.

As the trees near productivity the biogas production potential on the farm will gradually increase with Jatropha press cake, which is toxic for animals, becoming the main feedstock in the third phase. A 1000 m3 digester with insulation, heating and steering will be required to make productive use of the expected quantities.

The underground hemisphere has a height of 3m, with a 6m diameter. The surface above the digester is protected by a dry wall which prevents farm traffic from running over it. The inlet is squared to allow for easy feeding by wheelbarrow. The dung from the feedlot is washed in through the channel in front. The expansion chamber is a long stretched channel, besides which a compost heap is being established.