Assessment of faecal sludge management system in Rohingya response refugees camps, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar

Abstract

Bangladesh is currently experiencing the world’s fastest increasing Rohingya refugee settlement issue. With limited resources and available space, managing feces sludge in emergency settlements with a high population density is becoming increasingly difficult. Onsite sanitation and the removal of human waste are mainly unregulated in Bangladesh. In this study, thirty-three (33) camps with 197 Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) were utilized, and around eight different faecal sludge (FS) treatment methods were used. By assessing the effluent quality and technical assessment at the Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camps, this study seeks to gauge the performance of FSTPs. Effluent quality and technical assessment from different technologies are being used to treat the fecal sludge at Rohingya camps that contain Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR), Up-flow filters (UFF), Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSPs), Solid Separation Unit (SSU), Lime Stabilization Ponds (LSP), Decentralized Waste Water Treatment Plant (DEWATS), Anaerobic Lagoon (AL), Anaerobic Settling Thickening Tanks (ASTTs) and Centralized Treatment plant. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) elimination efficiency through the UFF, WSP & AL were found respectively 88.89%,100% & 100% that the values were found to vary from 18 mg/L to 29 mg/L while meeting with the Department of Environment (DoE) standard (30mg/l). Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removed efficiency by the UFF, WSP & AL by almost 100% and values were found to be varied from 60 mg/L to 85 mg/L while the allowable limit of DoE standard is 200mg/L. Total Suspended Solid (TSS) removed efficiency best performed by UFF, WSP & AL found 100% that values were found to be varied from 2mg/L to 70 mg/L while the permissible limit of DoE standard 100 mg/L. The concentrations of nitrate (DoE, 250 mg/L) and phosphate (DoE, 35 mg/L) in treated effluent were consistently determined to be much lower than the permitted level. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Fecal Coliform (FC) bacteria concentrations have exceeded the allowable DoE standard of 1000 cfu/100ml. On the other hand, ABR, LSP, SSU, ASTT & DEWATS treated methods were not capable of removing the TSS, COD, and BOD refugees’ camps situation according to DoE standard inland surface water bodies. Field monitoring was concentrated on a number of essential intervention issues, including adjusting water levels, maintaining uniform flow, managing vegetation, reducing odors, and maintaining slope. The FSTP has also received certain constitutive proposals that would ensure its long-term viability.