Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Fingernail Clam (Sphaerium corneum), and Water Cabbage (Pistia stratiotes): A Natural Approach to Sewage Waste Water Treatment

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Pollution has been the dominating environmental problems in our country. Dumping of waste both industrial and domestic have been rampant that leads to water pollution. On the other hand, sewage water treatment plants have been to be ineffective in removing household products and other water pollutants. As a concerned citizen of our country, the researcher tried to make an alternative solution to save our environment particularly the bodies of water. The researcher wants to prove that the Fingernail clam (Sphaerium corneum), Water cabbage (Pistia stratiotes) and Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) can be used to remove impurities or pollutants in bodies of water. It is a natural approach to sewage treatment wastewater; it serves as a biofilter to our lake because it will avoid a Nitrate and ammonia Levels from sewage treatment wastewater and pollution will be controlled.

METHODS

The Experimental Design consists of experimental and controlled set-up with fifteen pail containers for three trials. Each Trial has five treatments one for the controlled set-up and four for the experimental set-up. The experiment was conducted in three replicates. The containers contain 3L of freshwater sample and placed in the same area. The set-up was done for seven days. The controlled set-up is composed of 3L freshwater samples labeled 1A, 2A, and 3A. Wastewater was taken from Barangay Lumanglipa, Mataasnakahoy, Batangas and was tested for physical-chemical and bacteriological analysis. The variables were collected and prepared for identification. The data collected were subjected to Student t-test.

RESULTS

Water hyacinth, water cabbage, and fingernail clam were effective in treating wastewater. Based on the result of bacteriological examination of water samples, it was found that the water sample is high in total coliform, fecal coliform, and HPC. This explains that the water pollutants or microorganisms present is at high risks. Moreover, it was found out thatthe combination of 200 pieces of fingernail clam, 20 pieces of water cabbage and 20 pieces of water hyacinth is the most effective in treating sewage wastewater. After treatment, the results of physical-chemical and bacteriological test decreases.

DISCUSSIONS

It was concluded that the higher the number of variables the greater the possibilities in treating sewage wastewater. The researchers recommend that further study on other parameters should be made in water sample to determine its effectiveness as biofilters.