Effect of Natural Soil on Contaminant Removal from Drinking Water: the Case of Telelchitu Soil from West Harerige, Ethiopia

In many developing countries, access to clean and safe water is a crucial issue and more than six million people die because of diarrhea which is caused by polluted water. In Ethiopia recent data shows that; only 54 % of HH have access to an improved source of drinking water and more than 53 % of households travel 30 minutes or more to fetch their drinking water. In eastern part of Ethiopia where limited source of drinking water, Boke woreda households are using a special soil, locally called "Telilchitu",to treat drinking water. This study was developed to evaluate the effect of this soil for turbidity, Fluoride, Nitrate and Fecal Coliform removal. Five soil doses were assessed (5,10,15,20 and 25gm) using conventional jar test apparatus. Turbidity removal efficiency of the soil was tested at six pH values; 4,5,6,7.5,8,9 and 10 for all 50NTU, 150NTU and 400NTU initial turbidity. As settling time increases by one unit turbidity decreases by 4.5. The soil also has potential to reduce fecal Coliform bacteria by 88.32%. In wrapping up from this study a promising result is obtained regarding the treatment efficiency of the soil which can be used, as a low cost HH water treatment.