Evaluate of Acacia nilotica seed, Cloth filtration and Shap stone in improving water quality in rural areas in Sudan

Abstract

Abstract Background: Acacia nilotica was found to have algicidal, anti-protozal, antibacterial and antifungal effects. The present study aimed to identify the role of three treatment methods on physical, chemical, microbiological changes occurring in two water samples. The two samples were obtained from two rural villages. The methods used were, addition of Acacia nilotica seed, Shap stone (a tradition substance) and cloth filtration techniques. Results: Results showed that Fluoride, Chloride, and Total hardness, of water samples were (0.73 mg/l, 756 mg/l, 292 mg/l; 0.79mg/l, 220, and 224mg/l) respectively for untreated water sample collected from surface source and for other sample collected from ground source were respectively, trace iron was reported for ground water. A high level of Turbidity was record for both untreated water samples (50.3NTU for surface sample and 22.4NTU for ground sample). High microbial results (120 MPN/100ml) of untreated water were recorded. The addition of Acacia nilotica seed to both samples lead to partial reduction of chemical properties of water. Cloth Filtration technique reduce the turbidity level for both samples to 2.6 and 28.2 NTU for water collected from surface and ground source, respectively. Conclusions: The three methods have antimicrobial effect, result indicate a high reduction in the microbial contamination reached to 4 and 6 MPN/100 Ml. There was statistical difference (P < 0.05) regard to microbial contamination between the sample from surface source and sample from ground source.