Low Cost Water Filtration Using Corncobs

Abstract

For every day and wholesome dwelling, conductive surroundings are required by means of all residing beings, which include human beings, farm animals, plants, micro-organisms and the flora and fauna. The negative unpolluted environment has a specific composition. One of the biggest threats to environment is pollution which includes water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, land pollution etc. Water pollution is an alteration in bodily, chemical, organic function of water making it incorrect for its utilization in its natural kingdom. Although in very low concentration, water pollution may be neglected but it may prove fatal in extreme cases. It has an adverse effect like death of aquatic life, disruption of food chains, diseases to humans feeding on same water, destruction of ecosystem, eutrophication etc. Release of pollutants from various sources like domestic, agricultural and industrial sectors has dramatically modified the quality of water which contains several harmful residual substances like detergents, oils, colors, dyes, various salts, fertilizers, pesticides, effluents released from industries release toxic chemicals like heavy metals and chemicals (organic or synthetic) to the aquatic ecosystems. The best solution to water pollution is to reduce it at its source. Separation of pollutants at source is the best method to control water pollution. This comprises physical, biological and chemical split-up to convert the polluted water to clean and usable forms before release. This study exposes an innovative and inexpensive methodology of cleaning waste water from household and industrial sources by employing one of the most under-utilized agricultural byproduct, i.e., by using corncobs. In this study, we have utilized corncobs to treat domestic wastewater to reduce calcium and magnesium hardness, pH, color dye and detergent content, and we got positive outcomes.