PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISATION OF EFFLUENT FROM A FAECAL-SLUDGE TREATMENT PLANT IN ADJAGBO, BENIN, WEST AFRICA

Rapid population growth, intensive urbanisation and the expansion of human and industrial activities have led to a substantial increase in faecal-sludge production in urban areas of developing countries. This study assessed the physicochemical and microbiological quality of effluent discharged from the Adjagbo faecal-sludge treatment plant in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. Fourty eight (48) samples were collected seasonally from four strategically selected locations within the treatment plant. Physicochemical parameters were determined in accordance with French Association for Standardisation (AFNOR) methods, while microbiological parameters were assessed using membrane-filtration and colony-enumeration methods. One-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the influence of season on the measured parameters. Principal component analysis was performed to examine correlations among the variables.