STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF SETTLING TIME ON COLIFORM REDUCTION USING MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED POWDER

This paper studied the effect of settling time on microbe removal for low and medium turbidity pond (surface) water using Moringa oleifera seed powder. A high percentage of turbidity removal alongside a high percentage of microbial population removal with appropriate Moringa oleifera quantity was achieved. The turbidity removal for the low turbid water ranged between 80% and 96.3% within the 24 hours settling period while the microbial population removal efficiency ranged between 62.95% and 94.56%. The disinfection pattern revealed a departure from Chick’s law as a result of tailing effect for both the low and medium turbidity water. Microbe reduction in water is achievable using the Moringa oleifera seed powder even when the coagulation process is slow but proper Moringa oleifera seed dosage will produce better results. Disinfection of water using the Moringa oleifera seed powder is not a first order reaction.