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The 17th World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion will be held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the USA on June 17-22, 2022.

This international conference supported by the International Water Association Anaerobic Digestion Specialist Group is an event to discuss recent advances in anaerobic digestion and related processes.

The theme of the 17th World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion is “Biogas and Beyond: Expanding Applications of Anaerobic Biotechnologies in a Circular Economy.”

The event is co-chaired by Lutgarde Raskin (University of Michigan) and Adam L. Smith (University of Southern California).

The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in close proximity to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs with more than 1,100 flights per day to and from four continents.

The preliminary conference program includes seven pre-conference workshops, plenary and keynote speakers, a “research to entrepreneurship” panel discussion, over 100 oral presentations, and around 100 poster presentations. There will be strong participation from academics, utilities, and consulting engineers.

Background and Introduction

Ruses in urban settlements are critical environmental health needs in third-world cities with an estimated 600 million people daily exposed to pathogenic micro-organisms (especially in human excreta), caused by lack of infrastructure and crowded, cramped housing conditions. Investigations in Lokoja, Nigeria revealed a dependency ratio of 55%; with 54% of the city, dwellers made up of four-person households occupying 1-2 rooms in the congested apartment. This is what is obtainable where up to 25 persons use 1 toilet facility.

Objectives

• To review the fecal sludge conditions and management in Lokoja City, Nigeria.
• To analyze the weaknesses and strengths of the Faecal Sludge(FS) management
  system.
• To make recommendations for planners and decision-makers for improved FS
  management schemes in Lokoja.

Methods

A questionnaire and interview techniques and field observations were applied in this study a mixture of simple random sampling and systematic random sampling was used in selecting households for the study. A household is defined as a person or group of persons related and unrelated persons who live together in the same dwelling units or in connected, premises who acknowledge one adult member as head of the household, and who have common management for cooking and eating their food. 230 households, 10 city officials, and 10 fecal sludge operators were involved in the study.

The simple random technique was used in selecting seven areas of the city. Subsequently, the number 3 was randomly used in selecting streets and households for the study. In this case, every third street was selected and every third household was interviewed or issued questionnaires. This is to have a fair representation of the conditions in the city.

Results and Discussion

information from this study shows the decline of the bucket system with less than 5% of cases while removal by means of vacuum trucks makes up about 95%. There were, however, cases of onsite composting. While the average cost of fecal sludge evacuation in the city stands at about 118 US Dollars (N19, 100); about 21% of the population spends more than this average. Information from the officials and vacuum truck operators revealed that about 60% of fecal sludge evacuated is deposited in landfills (approved or unapproved) while about 40% finds its way into the water bodies. It is also noteworthy that vacuum truck operators use these water bodies for washing their trucks after each day’s operation. If each person discharges up to 5kg of excreta per day, then it can safely be concluded that about 365, 000, 000kg of excreta may find their way into water bodies around the city.

Also, about 70% of operators do not discharge in officially designated spots, although, permits were granted by the local government authorities. Active monitoring of vacuum truck operators is also not carried out by city officials while the general public turns a blind eye to this environmental atrocity.

Conclusions

This study aims at analyzing the weaknesses and strengths of the fecal sludge (FS) Management System and propose measures for planners and decision-makers for improved management schemes in the study area. While case studies in other developing areas revealed the importance of urban agriculture and horticulture in the utilization of fecal sludge, such is not the case with Lokoja. This study also revealed that there was intensification by municipal agencies of awareness-raising activities for improved safety tanks and for raising households’ acceptance of new fecal sludge management procedures at the municipal level.

In the case of Lokoja, there is no such institutional framework or serious concern on the part of the city
officials to either improve the fecal sludge management system or attempt to treat the sludge
before disposal or even monitor discharge points.

References:

1. Adedeji, Y.M.D (2004). Sustainable Housing for Low-Income Industrial Workers in Ikeja – Ilupeju Estate: Materials Initiative options paper, Presented At The School Of Environmental Technology, Federal University Of Technology, Akure.

2. Aribigbola, A. (2001). Housing and Nigerian Development: Assessment of Policy Measure and Direction. African Journal of Environmental Studies, 2(2), 117-122.

Acknowledgments:

The contributions of the following Professors, Lecturers, Partners, and Sponsors ours is hereby acknowledged:

1. Dr. Owo, HOD Micro-Biology, Nasarawa State University.
2. Mr. Romanus Umeoka Onwe
3. Dr. Lamin Mohammed Kpaka
4. Dr. Musa Omale
5. Kpakayema Ventures Limited
6. Freeland Group of Companies
7. Burak International Inc. Istanbul, Turkey
8. Board of Directors of ACSVI
9. American Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria

Mr. Pascal Kamsorochukwu Obiora (Assistant Research Officer)
Author

Mr. Peter Onyema Ekwunno (Research Officer)
Co-Author

Background and Introduction

Removal and disposal of excreta and waste water from washing, bathing, and other domestic uses in urban settlements are critical environmental health needs in third-world cities with an estimated 600 million people are daily exposed to pathogenic micro-organisms(especially in human excreta), caused by lack of infrastructure and crowded, cramped housing conditions. Investigations in Lokoja, Nigeria revealed a dependency ratio of 55%; with 54% of city dwellers made up of four-person households occupying 1-2 rooms in the congested apartment. This is what is obtainable where up to 25 persons use 1 toilet facility.

Objectives

1. To understand the production and nature of abattoir wastes.
2. To evaluate the suitability for the use of abattoir wastes in the production of biogas and biofertilizer.
3. To make recommendations based on the findings.

Methods

The study site is in Nara Local Government Council Nasarawa State. Questionnaires were developed and distributed to identify the types and number of animals slaughtered per day in addition, to the local situation such as current energy sources, current use of the waste, available facilities for waste disposal, waste disposal methods, and effects on the environment were assessed for the study area. The volumes of waste generated, and hence other parameters were calculated from the data of the number of animals slaughtered acquired from the survey. Generally, the mathematical computations used in the study were in accordance with acceptable standard coefficients and measurements.

Results and Discussion

The study revealed the following:

1. Some animal dung was generated in the animal holding area during the night
2. There were additional wastes from the fruits and vegetable market adjoining the abattoir.
3. The abattoir has no automated system for meat and waste processing. The rumen contents were conveyed using wheelbarrows to the designated dumping sites. There was an obvious stinking smell in the area.
4. Two of the rumen dumping sites are close to the stream near the abattoir. This shows a more pronounced danger of surface water pollution resulting in possible health and environmental hazards, especially to the users of water residing downstream.
5. The waste stream in the site is not currently put to use.
6. Among the animals slaughtered in the abattoir(goats, sheep, and cattle), cattle had the largest proportion of waste.

Conclusions

This case study established that the abattoir wastes are not properly managed in Nigeria, this can cause serious health risks for those who live around there or drink the water from the rivers close to it. The abattoir wastes are indiscriminately dumped, therefore, there is a need for proper management of the wastes, especially through recycling for utilization as an alternative energy source.

References

1. Adeyemi, I.G.; Adeyemo, O.K. Waste management practices at the Bodija abattoir, Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Stud. 2007, 64, 71–82.
2. Adeyemo, O.K.; Adeyemi, I.G.; Awosanya, E.J. Cattle cruelty and risks of meat contamination at Akinyele cattle market and slaughter slab in Oyo State, Nigeria. Trop. Anim. Heal. Prod. 2009, 41, 1715–1721.

Acknowledgments

The contributions of the following Professors, Lecturers, Partners, and Sponsors ours is hereby acknowledged:

1. Dr. Owo, HOD Micro-Biology, Nasarawa State University.
2. Mr. Romanus Umeoka Onwe
3. Dr. Lamin Mohammed Kpaka
4. Dr. Musa Omale
5. Kpakayema Ventures Limited
6. Freeland Group of Companies
7. Burak International Inc. Istanbul, Turkey
8. Board of Directors of ACSVI
9. American Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria