OBOUR STEM SCHOOL

Grade 11 , Semester 1
2023-1-05
TEAM NUMBER:21205

Omar Essam
Badr Mohammed

Ebrahem Mahmoud

Mustafa Mohamed

Group:
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21205
Introduction
There are several problems that face most of the world’s countries and
Egypt is not deprived of them. These setbacks are considered as Egypt’s
grand challenges as they don’t only form an obstacle or Egypt’s stability and
renaissance but also affect Egypt socially, economically, and environmentally
, and prevent the government from developing itself, making it considered
one of the developing countries despite having the fundamental factors
alongside the suitable human, natural and artificial resources giving it
countless chances to keep up with the world daily developing and give it
opportunities to lead the world, so solving these challenges must be as fast
and final as we can, there are about eleven grand challenges that face Egypt
and they are going to be discussed below, with a brief description and
explanation to each one. And from the most serious challenges that face
Egypt; managing and increasing sources of clean water , recycling garbage ,
water pollution and increasing agricultural and industrial base in Egypt .This
will reduce pollution of water by its treatment physically , chemically and
biologically with the least and cheapest methods , so its utilization in
agriculture will reduce poverty and famine , diseases , health risk and
others .Then all of this help in solving the Egyptian grand challenges. And we
try to solve this problem by constructing our prototype following EDP steps
which refers to Engineering Design Process that helps us to make the project
logically and efficiently.
Engineering design process consists of some steps that lead us finally to
make a successful project, these steps briefly are:
1) defining the problem
2) researching for prior solutions
3) Brainstorming
4) Developing a prototype
5) Testing the results
6) finally discussing the results and see if it achieved the requirements or
not.

These few steps will lead everybody to make their project success and
achieve the requirements, so it will solve the required problem.

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Table of Contents

Present and Justify a Problem and Solution Requirements:

I. Egypt Grand Challenges
II. Problem to be solved
III. Research
IV. Other solutions already Tried

Generating and defending a solution:

I. Solution and Design Requirements

II. Selection of solution
III. Selection of prototype

Constructing and Testing a Prototype:

I. Materials and Methods
II. Test plan
III. Data collection

Evaluation, Reflection , Recommendations:

I. Analysis and Discussion
II. Recommendations
III. Learning Outcomes
IV. List of sources in APA Format

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Present and Justify a Problem and Solution
Requirements:

I. Egypt Grand Challenges:

Egypt is facing 11 grand challenges which are crucial to demonstrate , and

find solutions for them to a greener future according to 17 sustainable
development goals. The challenges are:

1- Population growth
2- Alternative energies
3- Urban congestion
4- Improve the scientific and technological environment
5- Arid areas
6- Recycling garbage
7- Public health
8- Industry and Agriculture
9- Pollution
10-Climate Change
11-Clean Water

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 Figure 1.1 Egypt Grand Challenges

1-Manage and increase sources of clean water:

Clean water is an essential resource for human life and health, yet access to it is often limited and
unevenly distributed across the world. Managing and increasing sources of clean water is
therefore a critical challenge for governments and individuals alike.
Egypt has been suffering from severe water scarcity in
recent years. Uneven water distribution, misuse of water
resources, and inefficient irrigation techniques are some
of the major factors playing havoc with water security in
the country, But Egypt has a lot of water sources ( Figure
1)
One way to manage and increase sources of clean water
is through better water resource management. This
involves improving infrastructure to ensure that water is
collected, stored, and distributed in an efficient manner.
Governments can also introduce regulations and
legislation to ensure that water is not wasted or overused,
and that it is used in a sustainable way. Additionally,
governments can also invest in research and
development to develop better water-saving technologies Figure 1.2: Egypt's sources of water
and water conservation measures.
Another way to manage and increase sources of clean water is to reduce pollution and
contamination. This includes reducing pollution from industry, agriculture, and other sources, as
well as better managing sewage and wastewater. Governments can also invest in better waste
management systems, such as water filtration and reuse, to reduce the number of pollutants being
released into the environment. Additionally, governments can also invest in education and
awareness campaigns to encourage individuals to reduce their water consumption and reduce
their own pollution and contamination levels.
In Egypt, water infrastructure coverage has grown substantially over the last
decades. 7.3 million people are deprived of access to safe water, among
which 5.8 million live in rural areas and 1.5 million in urban areas. In rural
areas, around 12 percent of the population live in dwellings not connected to
the water system while, in urban areas, it’s 4 percent which do not have

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water connection. They are usually located in urban slums and poor
settlements.
To manage and increase sources of clean water:
1-providing safe water through direct water connections to the homes of the
most deprived families
2-raising awareness on hygiene and environmental friendly practices.
(unicef, 2017)
3- Implement rainwater harvesting systems to collect and store rainwater for
drinking or recharging underground aquifers. Build wells to extract
groundwater from underground aquifers.
4-Promote low-cost solutions, such as chlorine tablets or plastic bottles that
can be exposed to sunlight, to improve water quality.
5-Provide home water-treatment capability through the use of filters, solar
disinfection, or flocculants, to make drinking. (Rotary Service and
Engagement , 2018)

Finally, governments can also invest in research and development to develop new sources of
clean, renewable water. This includes investing in desalination technology and purification
systems, as well as investing in the development of new water sources, such as rainwater
harvesting and groundwater recharge.
Overall, managing and increasing sources of clean water is an essential challenge for
governments and individuals alike. By investing in better water resource management, reducing
pollution and contamination, and developing new sources of clean water, it is possible to ensure
that everyone has access to clean, safe water.

2- Recycle and retain garbage for economic and environmental

purposes:
The issue of waste and garbage management is a critical one for the economy and environment
in Egypt. Waste and garbage management is an important factor in economic growth and
prosperity, as well as ensuring the safety of the environment. Recycling of waste and garbage is a
key solution to this issue, as it allows for waste to be reused and repurposed, instead of simply
being disposed of. It also helps to
conserve resources and reduce the
amount of waste being sent to landfills or
incinerators.
Egypt has one of the highest GDPs in
Africa and the nation produces some of
the most e-waste on the continent. As a
result, Egypt ranks third in terms of air
pollution in the continent. there were over
21.7 million Stonesoft municipal solid
trash produced in 2016.

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 Figure 1.3: Egypt’s Solid Waste revenues and recycling

It is driven by changing purchasing patterns and population increase.

To encourage the recycling of waste and garbage, the government of Egypt needs to
implement policies that promote and incentivize the behavior. This could include tax benefits for
businesses that recycle, education campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of recycling,
and incentives for the public to engage in recycling activities.
Additionally, the government should work to improve infrastructure to make it easier for
people to recycle. This could include better waste collection systems, improved waste disposal
facilities, and better access to recycling centers.
Finally, the government should work to make sure that waste and garbage is managed in a
responsible and sustainable manner. This means ensuring that waste is managed properly, and
that the environment is not being polluted by improper disposal of waste.
Recycling garbage and waste is an important issue in Egypt, and one that needs to be
addressed to ensure a healthy environment and economy. Through improved policies, better
infrastructure, and improved management of waste, the government of Egypt can help to make
sure that waste is recycled in an efficient and sustainable manner.
We must take care of and not put off recycling rubbish and environmentally harmful things.
Particularly chemicals emitted by waste are bad for the environment, and not recycling rubbish
can also pollute the air.

If people quit recycling:

 Garbage piles up
 Landfills increase in number
 Greenhouse gases increase
 Fossil fuels disappear sooner
 Natural resources diminish

Garbage pollution effects:

One can develop diseases such as asthma, birth defects, cancer, cardiovascular disease,
childhood cancer, COPD, infectious diseases, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Bacteria,
vermin and insects can also be added to the problem that trash causes.

The basic phases in recycling are the collection of waste materials, their processing or
manufacture into new products, and the purchase of those products, which may then themselves
be recycled. Typical materials that are recycled include iron and steel scrap, aluminum cans,
glass bottles, paper, wood, and plastics. There are two broad types of recycling operations:
internal and external.

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 Internal recycling is the reuse in a manufacturing process of materials that are a waste product of
that process. Internal recycling is common in the metals industry.

External recycling is the reclaiming of materials from a product that has been worn out or
rendered obsolete. An example of external recycling is the collection of old newspapers and
magazines for repulping and their manufacture into new paper products, Aluminum cans and
glass bottles are other examples of everyday objects that are externally recycled on a wide scale.

Recycling becomes economically attractive when the cost of reprocessing waste or recycled
material is less than the cost of treating and disposing of the materials or of processing new raw
materials.

Processes of recycling are:

1- Collection: Recyclable materials are generated by a consumer or business and then collected
by a private hauler or government entity then
2- Processing: The materials are transported by the collector to a processing facility.
3- Remanufacturing: After all necessary processing is completed, recyclables are made into
new products at recycling plants or other facilities, such as paper mills or bottle manufacturing
facilities.

3-Increase the industrial and agricultural bases of Egypt:

Many governorates have built specialized units and industrial zones aimed at the growth of small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with each identifying the greatest industrial match for its
resources. Currently, there are 17 industrial complexes spread throughout 15 governorates, and
they cost a total of LE10 million and created 84,000 direct work possibilities. According to the
Ministry of Trade and Industry, the complexes were built to the highest technological standards
to create the ideal setting for industrial investment. (Mounir S. , 2021)

Egypt has seen a steady increase in its industrial and agricultural bases in recent years. This
has been driven by a combination of factors, including the country's economic reforms, increased
investment, and strong government support.

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In terms of industrialization, the government has implemented policies to encourage investment
and growth in the manufacturing sector. This includes tax incentives and the opening of
industrial zones to attract foreign investors. Additionally, the government has also supported the
development of infrastructure and the reallocation of resources to support the growth of the
industrial sector.
The agricultural sector has also seen significant increases in production due to a combination
of factors, including improved irrigation and water management, increased investment in
agricultural research, and the introduction of new technologies. This has allowed for increased
production and improved efficiency in the sector. Additionally, the government has also invested
in the development of new markets for agricultural produce, which has allowed for the expansion
of the sector.
Overall, the increase in industrial and agricultural production in Egypt has been a major
contributor to the country's economic growth. It has allowed for increased employment and
investment and has improved the country's economic prospects. This has not only contributed to
the country's economic growth but has also enabled a better quality of life for its citizens.

Egypt has been focused on industrial specialization for the past seven years, with the sectors
involved including textiles, pharmaceuticals, and furniture. There are now industrial zones in the
governorates of Gharbia, Behera, Alexandria, Fayoum, Beni Sweif, Minya, Assiut, the Red Sea,
Sohag, Qena, Luxor, and Aswan. They specialize in everything from furniture to ready-made
garments, plastics, food processing, engineering, chemical industries, and building materials.

Building industrial zones in different governorates creates direct job opportunities for young
people, reduces unemployment rates, makes new products available in the Egyptian market,
decreases imports, and alleviates the pressure on hard currency needs, Al-Saqti said.

ICT industry is known to be the fastest growing sector in Egypt. The sector hit new heights,
recording a growth rate of about 16.3%, outpacing all the state’s economic sectors during the
fiscal year 2021/2022. . (itida, 2019)
Agriculture is a major component of the Egyptian economy, contributing 11.3
percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The agriculture sector
accounts for 28 percent of all jobs, and over 55 percent of employment in
upper Egypt is agriculture related. Egypt's agriculture sector is dominated by
small farms using traditional practices that don't meet international
standards.

EVALUATING IMPACT AND BUILDING CAPACITY of agricultural bases: In support of

evidence-based policymaking, digitalization of public services, and strengthening public-sector
capacity, USAID funds the International Food Policy Research Institute through the Evaluating
Impact and Building Capacity program. The program contributes to rural income growth,
poverty reduction, food security, and nutrition in Egypt.
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EGYPT RURAL AGRIBUSINESS STRENGTHENING of agricultural bases: USAID helps
farmers in Upper Egypt and the Delta increase incomes by growing marketable crops that meet
international standards for export. Under this program, Egyptian farmers and food processors are
establishing connections to domestic and international markets, gaining access to finance, and
increasing their adherence to food safety practices.

4-Address and reduce

Figure 1.4: Agricultural bases
pollution fouling our
air, water, and soil:
Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called
pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity,
such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land. Many
useful things to people produce pollution as Car’s spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal
to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute
the land and water. Pesticides—chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects—seep into waterways
and harm wildlife and that threatens our life. Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and
migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Wind can pick up radioactive material accidentally
released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world.
Reducing pollution in ways like:

1- Walking or riding to work or the shops instead of driving because Motor vehicle emissions
remain the most significant source of most common air pollutants.
2- Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle next time you are replacing your car.
3- Save energy by turning off the television and turn off the light when you don’t need it.
4- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products as phosphorous.
5- Buy energy -efficient appliances. (Asturalian Government, 2022)

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 Figure 1.5: Pollution rates in Cairo (Hereher, 2021)

Pollution has had devastating effects on our environment, fouling our air, water, and soil.
Pollution is a man-made problem that can be caused by a variety of sources and has many
different sources, from industrial emissions to agricultural runoff. To address this problem and
reduce the amount of pollution fouling our environment, governments, businesses, and
individuals must work together to implement solutions.
At the governmental level, governments must create and enforce laws and regulations that
limit the amount of pollution that businesses and industries can release into the environment.
Governments should also invest in clean energy sources such as renewable energy and work to
reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, which are the primary source of air pollution.
Additionally, governments must ensure that businesses and industries are properly disposing of
their waste and should provide incentives for businesses that are taking steps to reduce their
pollution output.
At the business level, businesses must take responsibility for their role in pollution and take
steps to reduce their impact on the environment. Companies should work to reduce their energy
and water consumption, while also investing in more environmentally friendly practices such as
recycling and waste management.
Finally, individuals must also take responsibility for their own pollution output. Individuals
should reduce their consumption of products that are produced using high levels of energy and
water consumption. Additionally, individuals should practice reducing, reusing, and recycling to
reduce their own impact on the environment.
Ultimately, to address and reduce the pollution fouling our air, water, and soil, governments,
businesses, and individuals must all take responsibility for their role in the problem and work
together to implement solutions. With the right measures in place, we can reduce the amount of
pollution fouling our environment and create a healthier and more sustainable future.

Pollution is one of the essential problems that face the living organisms, so we need to define this
problem.

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“Pollution: is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment.’’
Types of pollution is divided into:
 Water pollution
 Air pollution
 Soil pollution

Water pollution:
Definition:
It is the contamination of water sources by substances which make the water unusable for
drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities
It occurs as a result of the most prevalent types of contaminants as :
 agricultural runoff
 air deposition
 water diversions
 channelization of streams.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2 billion people worldwide
consume water that is contaminated and, Approximately 80%of diseases are waterborne. Nearly
a million seabirds and other marine animals are killed each year by ocean wastes.
Therefore, we have to start reducing this kind of pollution by stop throwing the trash into the
river or any water nearby us, and the government has to set strict rules about throwing factories
wastes away into the river.

Air pollution:
Definition:
It is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological
agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year air pollution is responsible for
nearly seven million deaths around the globe and, at least 9 out of 10 people across the world are
living in places with polluted air.

From the air pollution factors:

 vehicle emissions
 fuel oils
 natural gas to heat homes
 by products of manufacturing and power generation
Solution:

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1. Use public mode of transportation.
2. Conserve energy and use clean energy.
3. Understand the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Soil pollution:( Land pollution)

Definition:
t is the deterioration (destruction) of the earth’s land surfaces, often directly or indirectly because
of man’s activities and their misuse of land resources.
The planet loses 24 billion tons of topsoil each year because of land pollution according to
It occurs when:
 waste is not disposed of properly
 when humans throw chemicals onto the soil.
How to reduce soil pollution:
1. Not throwing the trash into the land, but building areas to recycle this trash.
2. Not burning the rest crops in the field. 3. Reduce using chemical substances.

II- Problem to be solved:

Wastewater treatment is becoming more and more essential due to reduction of water sources ,
high waste-water disposal costs , health risk and damaging the environment. Egypt produces
about 3.5 billion m/year of municipal wastewater, while current treatment capacity is about 1.6
billion m3/year. The Delta Region alone generates more than 2 million m3/year, mostly
originating from Egypt’s two greatest urban centers, Cairo and Alexandria. Treatment plants
serve 55% of the population in towns and cities about 1.6 billion m3/year (Abdallah, 2019)
Renewable water resources available to Egypt total approximately 57 billion cubic meters
(BCM)/year. Approximately 97 percent comes from the Nile, with the remainder from
precipitation. The quantity of supply is essentially fixed. Water demand, on the other hand, is
increasing. Currently, it is estimated at 72 BCM per year, over 80 percent of which is used for
agriculture
Egypt is an arid country facing challenges due to its limited water resources. Agriculture is the
largest water consumer in Egypt with its share exceeding 80–85% of the total demand for water

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 Figure 1.6 : Water Resources in Egypt (Abdallah, 2019)

The present per capita water share is below 1,000 m3/year and it might reach 600 m3/year in the
year 2025, which would indicate water scarcity level that starts at 1,000 m3/year (Abdallah,
2019)

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Figure 1.7: Population Growth and Per Capita Water Share in Egypt (m3/year) (Abdallah, 2019)

The main objective of wastewater treatment is to allow human and industrial effluents to be
disposed without health risk to the environment or people. Treatment of water is required to raw
municipal water before being utilized whether in agriculture , aquaculture or domestic usage. The
quality of treatment of water that ensues effluents has a great influence on the operation of
wastewater-soil-plant , so soil conditions will be adopted to it. The most appropriate wastewater
treatment for irrigation mainly depends on the effluents that meet recommended microbiological
and chemical quality guidelines at both low cost and low maintenance especially in developing
countries. Removal of suspended solids , inorganic or organic matter especially pathogen
removal is mandatory for reuse of this water in agriculture which is not economically feasible
but technically possible

Of course, the problem of wastewater treatment is essential to deal with and solve. Therefore, if
we solve it, we will have a good impact on many fields, such as:

1. Agriculture field:

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 As the wastewater is treated, the sources of water increase, and as a result, the water will be
more abundant for watering crops that need more water than other crops such as rice and
cotton. So, the agriculture field will thrive.

2. Industrial field:

As we said before, if we treat the waste water, the sources of water will be in greater
abundance, so we can provide this water to water-intensive industries such as the textile and
garment industries.

Therefore, if we increase the production of agriculture and industrial fields, the economy will
boom.

If the problem of wastewater treatment is not solved it will affect badly on:

1. The public health:

When the wastewater is not treated properly many health issues occur such as:

 Exist of Pathogens that leads to many diseases such as:

1. Diarrhea
2. Cholera
3. Dysentery
4. typhoid
5. polio

2. Pollution of water:
When waste water is poured onto dry land or run-off water, the groundwater and surface water of
any reservoir will be contaminated and not suitable for human use.

III- Research

Plants which are considered to be essential for Egypt:

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Dr. Ayman Mahmoud Hamouda , Director of Horticulture Research institute at the Ministry of
Agriculture , Professor of Medicinal and aromatic plants indicated that more than 30 types of
medicinal plants are exported to countries on approximately 80,000 acres and Egyptian flora
contains about 2500 of aromatic and medicinal plants. These plants are divided into three main
types which are apiaceae , lamiacae , and compositae plants. Apiacae plants are cumin, coriander
, anise while lamiacae plants are mint, basil , thyme , marjoram , sage ; in addition to the
compositae plants which are hibiscus , hema , moonflower , chamomile , lemongrass and
)Da'bas, 2021( citronella

Figure 1.8 : Anise plant

Anise-1
Its origin is in Egypt and Mediterranean Region and has a height of 0.5 meters. It comes from
Parsley family as it is grown from its edible fruits. It has thin and ribbed stems that emerge large
branches having serrated leaves ; moreover , small white flowers exist at the end of its branches
that turn into brown colour during maturity. The lifetime of this plant is annual which
.demonstrates being grown for a year
It has been used as a drink for stomach pain , disorders , dysuria as well as a treatment for gum
)Egyptian Plants, 2021( and tooth pain
:The following are conditions necessary to be met to grow anise successfully
A warm environment-1
Full exposure to sunlight for at least 6 hours per day-2
A soil full of humus with preferable sandy or clay particles supported with nutrients and -3
nitrogen fertilizers if necessary
The soil must drain well that demonstrates to retain water without submerging it with a pH -4
ranging from 6.0-6.7

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:The steps to grow in a pot
1- Choose a good planting pot with a width and depth of 25 cm.
2- Make 3 holes in the pot and planting 3-5 seeds each.
3- After germination, cut the weak seeds and leave the strong seed only in each hole.
4- Tie the plant regularly to avoid its falling when wind blows.
5- Water it regularly especially when it is planted in a container until reaches 6 to 8 inches in
height

6- Harvest it after six to eight weeks

(Regina, n.d.)
 Anise seeds germinate in about 14 days until the temperature of the soil reaches 21℃
(Yehia Khalaf , Awad Kabana , Mousa Al-Fayad, n.d.)

Figure 1.9: Cumin Plant

2- Cumin:
The origin homeland of cumin is Egypt since it grows on banks of Nile River. It can be utilized
in multiple objectives such as:
I- Treating stomach pain
II- Healing burns
III- Treating ulcers and wounds
IV- Treating Intestinal colic and tapeworm
V- Treating rheumatic and joint pain
VI- Alleviate indigestion
VII- Curing fever
VIII- Rich in calcium , iron and phosphorus
IX- Useful for weak-memory people

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 X- Stimulating blood circulation
Methods to plant it:

1-Place the soil containing organic fertilizers and compost inside the planting pot which should
be preferably of 20 cm wide and 15-20 cm deep
2- Plant only 10 seeds in each pot in case of desiring to obtain seeds from cumin plant , but plant
large number of seeds in case of aiming to obtain vegetative growth from cumin plant used in
foods and salads then cut it after reaching 10 cm in length.
 Cumin is planted from the beginning of September until the end of October and Its seeds
are collected in mid-March to late-April ( Spring)
 Its seeds are germinated every 10 days. If this process was desired to be faster , place the
planting pots in a refrigerator for one day breaking the dormancy of cumin resulting in
germination of seeds in just 5 days.

Figure 1.10: Hibiscus plant

3- The hibiscus plant:

Hibiscus plant is grown in Egypt especially in southern Egypt within about up to 2 meters height.
It has red stems ; in addition to , the sepals that are used exist in its flowers have light or dark
red.

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The potting soil should consist of:
a- Part of topsoil
b- Part of algae or corpse moss
c- Part of coarse sand, perlite , vermiculite.
Methods:
1- The soil must be with a pH of 7-7.2
2- Do not use garden soils to grow hibiscus to avoid growing of bacteria may cause cancer
to the plant
3- Distribute a depth of 2 to 3 inches of organic fertilizer
4- Water the hibiscus as often as necessary with an accurate regulation
5- It is planted in a pot when the upper surface of the soil is dry (Salem, n.d.)

Its Benefits:
1- Protection with antioxidants such as beta-carotene , vitamin C and anthocyanin
2- Fights inflammation
3- Lowers blood pressure
4- Lowers cholesterol level
5- Promotes weight loss
6- Fights bacteria
7- Supports liver health (7 Benefits of hebisicus tea, 2022)

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 Figure 1.11: Lemon in a
pot

4-Lemon:

Benefits:
1- Protect against kidney stones and anemia
2- Support heart health
3- Help Control Weight
4- Reduce cancer risk
5- Improve digestive health

Methods to plant it:

a- Bring a lemon tree of 2-3 years old
b- Take it out of the pot came from nursey by exposing their roots with streams to avoid
their damage
c- Place the tree in the new planting pot filled with soil up to the brim and has a pH of 5.5-7
d- Watering the tree well
e- Exposure to sunlight for at least 7-8 hours a day
f- The planting pot should be plastic with at least 57 liters
g- It requires adding fertilizers (Suyash, 2023)

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 Figure 1.12: Basil Plant

5-Ocimum basil:
Conditions for its successful growth:
1- Exposing to sunlight for about 6-8 hours a day or artificial light for about 10-12 hours a
day.
2- Planting it in a fertile and moderately moistly soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5 being acidic to
neutral soil by adding organic fertilizers.
3- Growing it in planting pots to provide a good water drainage and away from city and
loans to prevent spreading of dirt to the pot.

Methods to plant basil:

a- Get a coarse soil consists of coarse clay from stores or home garden
b- Identify the planting pot with sufficient drainage holes
c- Sterilize the pot well by soaking it into an aqueous solution of water and detergent , then
rinsing it
d- Fill ¾ of size of planting pot with clay
e- Water it sufficiently to balance soil moisture
f- Spread the sheets randomly in square pots but 2.5 cm apart if the pot was round
g- Cover the seeds with fertilizer or silt which is 1/3 of remaining distance
h- Moisture the soil using a spray bottle regularly not too much by placing your finger in 2.5
cm to check if it was dry or not
i- Seedlings should be 15-30 apart from each other
 The seeds will germinate in a week and a basil of 15 cm length is a well-grown one.

Benefits:
1- Reducing oxidative stress through its antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamin C to
eliminate free radicals which leads to oxidative stress and cell cancer
2- Promoting liver health

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 3- Reducing depression and its symptoms
4- Lowering blood sugar levels
5- Reducing cholesterol level
6- Treating acne and memory loss (Magazines, 2020)

Figure 1.13: Thyme Plant

6-Thyme: ( Mint family)

 It grows indoors by more than one way such as seedling , cuttings or seeds.
 It does not need fertilizers , so it can grow despite lack of nutrients
 It can be planted anytime throughout the year , but the best time to be planted is in
October and November.
 The seeds take 6-8 weeks to grow sufficiently but they germinate in two weeks or more
(Vanzile, 2022)
Methods:
1- Choose sterilized thyme seeds through purchasing them
2- Prepare appropriate soil of sandy and gravel mixture which is well-drained and very dry
with a pH ranges from 6.0 to 8.0
3- Indoor temperatures must be between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit without humid conditions
4- Place three seeds in the pot and cover them with soil
5- Water them with plenty of water

Benefits:
I- Fighting acne
II- Lowering blood pressure

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 III- Alleviate cough
IV- Boosting immunity
V- Disinfecting
VI- Repelling pests
VII- Boosting mood
VIII- Preventing bacterial infections
IX- Helping against certain types of cancer

Figure 1.14: Coricander Plant

7-Coriander:
 Its planting depends on the appropriate conditions of the place such as : In moderate
climate conditions , It is preferred to be planted in late spring , on the other hand , In
tropical climate conditions , It is preferred to be planted in fall
 It needs a soil of pH scale ranging from 6.2-6.8
 It needs a pot of at least 25 cm deep and planting a maximum of 5 seeds in each pot
 It must be watered frequently and regularly
 It will germinate in two to three weeks (How to grow coriander, n.d.)
Health benefits:
1- Coriander leaves are source of vitamin C, vitamin k , protein , iron , magnesium and
manganese
2- It is anti-oxidant
3- The leaves have linoleic acid and cineole that are characterized by inflammatory
properties
4- It helps fight eczema and skin infections
5- Lowering blood cholesterol level
6- Maintaining blood sugar levels (Sheta, 2021)

8-Mint “ Mentha spicata”:

Benefits:

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 a- Prevention of indigestion as it is antioxidant
b- Relieving headaches
c- It is a decongestant whereby means clearing your nose during coughing
d- Alleviating Fatigue
e- Helping with skin care
f- Weight loss
g- Prevention of asthma
h- Oral care to avoid harmful bacteria growth in the mouth
i- Prevention of certain types of cancer (Nemeth, 2016)
Methods: Figure 1.15: Mintha Spicata

1- Buy a fresh bunch of mint , then choose a strong and thick stalk of mint ranges from 7-15
cm in length
2- Pick all the buds ,flowers and leaves from this stalk except the top leaves only by using
scissors carefully
3- Bring a planting pot of at least 20 cm in diameter , 24 cm height , capacity 9.5 liters
4- Prepare a standard appropriate soil with a pH scale ranges from 6.5-7.0
5- Expose the planting pot to sunlight fully or partially (Nemeth, 2016)
6- The temperature should be between 13-21 degree Celsius (Salim, 2023)
7- Water it regularly and frequently if the soil is damp
 Mint seeds germinate in 10-15 days

Biological Treatment of wastewater:

Biological wastewater treatment is usually the secondary process in water treatment as it begins
after wastewater is treated by removal of large particles and processed through sedimentation or
settling tank. Its main theme is to use bacteria or microbes to use the organic and biological
waste in water as a main source of food for them resulting in an activated sludge that is easily
settled down by force of gravity.
It is divided into three main types:
I- Aerobic which involves using oxygen by bacteria to break down organic pollution
into biomass and carbon dioxide gas
II- Anaerobic which involves no utilization of oxygen by bacteria to break down organic
matter into biomass , methane or carbon dioxde
III- Anoxic means usage of bacteria to other gases except for oxygen to grow such as
sulphate , nitrate , nitrite or selenite.
Biological oxygen demand (BOD):

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  is a measurement of quantity of dissolved oxygen consumed by aerobic bacteria to break
down organic matter into biomass and carbon dioxide gas
 High biodegradable material in water that originates from sewage water , run-off fertilizer
, discharge pollutants is characterized by high BOD
 It causes removal of oxygen gas from the polluted water that provoke death of aquatic
organisms and fast growth of harmful algae.
Aerobic wastewater treatment involves various methods such as:
1-Activated Sludge:
It is divided into microorganisms ,
wastewater and mixed liquor.It has been
existed since the start of 20st century where
wastewater first flows into aeration tank
where oxygen is pumped to allow bacteria to
grow fast and feed on organic pollutants of
water resulting in formation of clumps
known as floc that can be easily removed by
sedimentation process. The activated sludge
is composed of submerged diffusers that
release compressed air as well as mechanical
surface aerators to that introduce the air by
agitating the liquid surface. This process
takes about 3-8 hours but can be higher with
higher BOD (Messrs. S.S. Al-Salem)
Disadvantages of Activated Sludge:
1- It requires a lot of space
2- It forms large amounts of Figure 1.16: Activated Sludge
sludge
Advantages of Activated Sludge:
1- It is cheap to build and utilize compared to other options

2-Fixed-bed bioreactors (FBBRs):

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It was developed in 1970s and 80s. It consists of series of tanks with multiple chambers having
porous material such as ceramic , plastic or foam. Wastewater flows through these various
chambers holding more microbes to be a space-saving technology
Advantages:
I- It is energy-efficient
II- It is ideal for treating wastewater at all BOD levels
III- Sludge disposal costs are low
IV- They have long lifespan
V- Water can flow without plugging or channeling

3-Moving-bed bioreactor ( MBBRs):

It is used for wastewater treatment of domestic
sewage and industrial water. It is compromised
of aeration tanks with several biofilms carriers
of different sizes and shapes. Once biofilms are
moving in MBBRs, they carry the organic
pollutants from wastewater in a smaller area. On
the subsequent stage , The resulted sludge is
packed into slurry can be removed by vacuum or
solids pressed into other solids to remove
disposal sludge. This technique may be used in
the first step of water treatment process. Figure 1.18: MBBRs

4-Membrane bioreactors (MBRs):

Membrane modules submerged into aeration tank as this technique is a combination of
conventional activated sludge and membrane filtration to end the process of disposing sludge by
sedimentation tank. It is used mainly in treatment of domestic sewage but it has a limited usage
for industrial water from factories.
Pros:
I- It produce high quality of
effluents compared to
conventional activated sludge
II- It uses aerobic and anaerobic
bacteria

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Figure 1.19: MBRs

 III- It uses 40-60% of space of traditional activated sludge process (Mittal, 2011)
Cons:
I- Its design is expensive to build initially
II- It involves operations and maintenance of highly costs.

5-Biological trickling filters:

It is used to remove contaminants from both water and air.
As soon as water or air passes through them , certain type of
medium of biofilm will be collected on surface of these
filters that contains both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
Gravel , foam , sand , stones , plastic or ceramics might be
used to create these systems. (Biological Wastewater
treatment, n.d.).

Wastewater is introduced continuously or intermittently over

the media , then microorganisms attach to the surface Figure 1.20: Biological trickling filters
forming a biofilm that organic matter are diffused through. The oxygen can be supplied to
biofilm naturally from the air and from the submerged liquid.

6-Rotating Biological Reactor:

It is widely used due to its simplicity of design ,
high reliability and low energy consumption. It
uses rotating discs that are partially submerged
in the wastewater tank. The rotation promotes
growth of microbes that attach to the surface

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Figure 1.21: Rotating Biological Reactor
forming biofilms consuming organic matter. It results in formation of sludge released through a
clarifier by force of gravity. (Sharjeel Waqas, 2023)

II-Anaerobic wastewater treatment

involves this method:
Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket
( UASB):
It is in form of anaerobic digester that
produces methane , carbon dioxide gas and
water. It is used to dilute wastewater streams
The reactor has three-phase separators that
separate gas , water and sludge mixtures as
well as having gas hoods for separation of
biogas.
The influent is pumped to the UASB reactor
by peristaltaic pump at the bottom , then it get
in contact with biomass in sludge bed and the
3-phase separators separate the solid particles Figure 1.22: UASB reactor
from mixture to allow extraction of treated water outside the reactor.
The main objective of GLS separator to facilitate return of sludge without any control or external
energy and provide gas-water interfaces to control surface overflow rate. (Up-flow anaerobic
sludge blanket, n.d.)
Advantages :
1- It requires less nutrients
2- It needs low energy only for treatment process
3- Amount of valuable biogas will be emitted to produce electricity or fuel
4-

Disadvantages:
1- Longer start-up period
2- Require a proper temperature ranging from (15 to 35) ℃ so not applicable in some
countries during winter
3- Need equipment such as pH meter , thermometer and others which cost much money.

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Physical Treatment:

The treatment of water through methods aims to remove impurities and contaminants
without altering the chemical composition of these pollutants. This approach relies on
utilizing forces and separation techniques to purify water. Here are some employed
physical treatment processes for dealing with water.

The first treatment is Sedimentation, and it is a process that involves allowing water to
settle undisturbed in a tank or basin. During this period heavier particles and suspended
solids naturally sink to the bottom due to gravity while cleaner water remains at the top.
This method is often utilized for removing particles and sediments.
The second treatment is Filtration, and it entails passing water through a medium, such as
sand, gravel, or different types of membranes. As the water flows through this medium
suspended solid, particles and even microorganisms become trapped within it resulting in
water on the side. Examples of filtration techniques include sand filtration and membrane
filtration.
The third and the most important treatment is Coagulation and Flocculation; In this
process chemical coagulants are introduced into the water to destabilize and agglomerate
particles and colloids together. Following coagulation flocculants like polymers are
added to form flocs that can be easily settled or filtered out.
The last treatment is Adsorption, and it involves utilizing adsorbent materials like
activated carbon to attract and bind contaminants, from the water onto their surfaces. This
technique proves to be efficient when it comes to eliminating pollutants well as
compounds that affect taste and produce unpleasant odors.

Chemical Treatment of Wastewater:

Water treatment plants use several processes including biological and chemical processing that require the
usage of different chemicals to disinfect the water and balance the pH level. Let’s discuss the primary
chemicals used in wastewater treatment plants depending on the application.

 pH Neutralization of Water

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To balance the pH level of the wastewater, you can add the basic chemicals to the water that
includes alkalis and other acidic acids

 Chemical Coagulants

Chemical coagulants are aluminium or iron-based chemicals that help in removing pathogens,
fluoride, organic compounds, and other contaminants. They work to destabilize wastewater
particles by introducing positively charged coagulant that reduces the negative charge of the
particles. The waste particles form into larger bodies that can be filtered out.

 Flocculation of Wastewater

Flocculants help to remove very fine particles from the wastewater treatment plant through
charge bridging and magnetic neutralization. By adding flocculants, waste particles are
encouraged to form into clumps or flocs that can settle out during the sedimentation process.

 Removal of Odour

 Cleaning and Degreasing Chemicals

Wastewater treatment plant contains water with oil and grease residue that needs to be processed
before introducing it back into the environment. Solvent chemicals can help to break down the
grease, which makes it easier to remove.

 Chemical Oxidation Process

In wastewater engineering, the process of chemical oxidation is used to convert pollutants into
less destructive compounds. This helps in purification of surface waters.

Reducing agents such as sodium bisulfite, sodium hydrosulfite, and other chemicals are used to
reduce the impact of hydrogen peroxide, chlorine antibiotics and other compounds in the water.

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  Use of Defoamers and Antifoamers for Wastewater

A defoaming agent is a chemical additive that helps in reducing the level of trapped air and foam
created during the wastewater treatment process. Defoaming agents eliminate the existing foam,
while the antifoam agent prevents the air from forming again. Silicone is most commonly used as
a defoaming agent.

Wastewater treatment plants and other industrial water treatment plants require the use of several
distinct technologies and chemicals to process the wastewater and make it reusable. However, it
is necessary to understand the science and logic behind using these techniques as it requires
careful handling of several chemicals to treat the effluents in the wastewater. (Types of
Chemicals Used in a Wastewater Treatment Plant, n.d.)

High water quality is obtained through purification processes, aimed at improving its
parameters through various purification methods (Water & Wastewater treatment, 2017)

Different Types of Wastewater

Wastewater can be broadly classified into two categories; wastewater and industrial wastewater.
Lets delve deeper into each of them.
1- Domestic Wastewater
Domestic wastewater primarily originates from households. It can also include water, from
hospitals, industries and other commercial facilities. Additionally stormwater collected during
rainfall may also fall under the category of wastewater. The sources of wastewater typically
encompass discharges from our day to day activities such as bathing, cooking, washing clothes,
vegetables and meat. Despite its level of impurities domestic wastewater can be effectively
treated.

2- Industrial Wastewater
As the name suggests industrial wastewater is mainly generated by manufacturing or commercial
units. This type of water contains an amount of pollutants like oil, silt, toxic chemicals, ink,
drugs, pesticides sand,silt and chemicals. Treating wastewater may not always be as
straightforward, as treating wastewater.

It is essential to note that besides these mentioned categories wastewater can also be further
classified into subcategories.

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 3- Blackwater:
refers to the wastewater that is produced in our homes. Contains waste, from toilets
dishwashing units and kitchen sinks. It includes waste from toilets and bidets as well as
impurities from our bathrooms and sink drains.

The impurities found in blackwater consist of feces, urine, body wipes, toilet paper, soap,
shampoo, detergents and other substances. Due to the concentration of dissolved chemicals, in
this water it is highly pathogenic.
Additionally, they could contain anal cleansing water, body cleaning liquids, and shampoos,
among others. Furthermore, blackwater coming from food preparation sinks are also filled with
cooking oil, food particles, and grease.

This type of wastewater is highly contaminated and very pathogenic. It is filled with a lot of
particulate matter and dissolved chemicals. It is also a home to millions of bacteria that should be
decomposed fully before being released back into the environment.

4- Graywater
Also known as sullage, this type of wastewater has not been contaminated with fecal matter. This
form of wastewater primarily originates from non-toilet units like showers, washing machines,
hand basins, laundry machines, bathtubs, spa sinks, and everything in between. This is the sewer
water that doesn’t have any trace of urine or human waste. Albeit toxic, greywater

Unlike blackwater, greywater contains lesser pathogens. However, it should still be noted that it
contains small amounts of possible contaminants which could cause diseases should it be
ingested. Because it does not contain any feces or urine, treatment for greywater is different from
blackwater. Usually, greywater is suitable for re-use after being treated in an appropriate
wastewater treatment facility.

Primary Causes of Water Pollution

Floods which contain greywater could be brought about by a weather phenomenon, a broken
pipe, or an overflowing plumbing fixture. People should be cautious when handling greywater by
taking precautionary measures including gloves and wearing protective gear because they could
still pose some health issues. Untreated greywater could become blackwater.

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 1- Yellow Water
This refers to the urine that’s collected across dedicated channels. Yellow water isn’t
contaminated by the impurities of black or greywater. As with greywater, it may be suitably
reused

Sources of Wastewater
The common sources of wastewater are domestic sewage wastewater and non-domestic
wastewater.

1- Domestic Sewage
The wastewater created from homes, public toilets, hotels, resorts, motels, schools, religious
institutions, hospitals, doctors’ clinics, sports centers, and apartments can be classified as
domestic sewage wastewater. The mentioned institutions individually and collectively create
significantly high levels of wastewater.

2- Non-Domestic Water
This includes the wastewater created from floods, rainwater runoff, swimming pool water,
garage water, and water from cleaning centers. Wastewater generated from salons, commercial
kitchens, energy units, and agricultural facilities can also be classified into this category.

So, in a way, the water used in both residential and commercial units will add to the volume of
wastewater produced by the property.

Organic Matter:

Suspended solids: 40-60%

Dissolved organic matter: 20-30%

BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand): Typically, around 200-400 mg/L, representing the organic
load.

Inorganic Matter:

Dissolved inorganic solids: 20-30%

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Inorganic nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus): Varies depending on the region and local
conditions.

Pathogens:

Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa: The concentration of pathogens can vary widely, but they are
usually present in wastewater.

Other Substances:

Chemicals and contaminants: Varies depending on the presence of industrial or agricultural

sources and local regulations.

IV. Other solutions already Tried:

1- New Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plant:

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 The project's primary goal is to build a wastewater treatment facility that is both affordable
and safe for the environment for the city of New
Cairo and the surrounding area to accommodate
current and future population expansion.
The factory will employ traditional methods for
treating both water and sludge. The water
treatment line will always have four or more lines
running in each unitary procedure. The final
procedure will include micro-screening and
disinfection of the effluent to ensure compliance
with the effluent regulations. Through
composting, further sludge treatment will be
accomplished. Figure 1.23: New Cairo Wastewater Treatment

Advantages:
1- Environmental Protection: Treatment facilities contribute to environmental protection by
filtering pollutants out of wastewater before releasing them into soil or water resources.
2- Public health: They improve it by limiting the contamination of water sources used for
drinking, farming, and recreation as well as by stopping the spread of waterborne
diseases.
3- Water conservation: By reusing treated wastewater for activities like irrigation,
manufacturing, or even replenishing aquifers, freshwater supplies can be preserved.

Disadvantages:
1- High start-up costs: Building a wastewater treatment plant can need a substantial initial
investment, including expenditures for infrastructure, equipment, and construction.
2- Continuous energy and resources are needed to operate and maintain a treatment plant,
which results in ongoing operational expenditures that must be carefully controlled.
3- Technological limitations: It may be difficult to implement complete pollution
management because certain treatment plants lack the necessary equipment to properly
remove some developing toxins or micro-pollutants.

2- Britannia Acid Mine Water Treatment Plant

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 Agreement for developing a treatment
plant to treat contaminated water
flowing from the Britannia Mine site
with a new acid rock drainage treatment
plant. Once the largest copper mine
producer in the British Commonwealth,
the Britannia Mine has been a major
source of acid mine water pollution in
Howe Sound since its closure in the
mid-1970’s and up to development of
the plant has been of the largest sources
of acid rock drainage to a marine
environment in North America. Figure 1.24: Britannia Acid Mine Water Treatment Plant

Advantages:
1- Environmental Protection: By neutralizing acidic water and eliminating dangerous heavy
metals, acid mine water treatment plants serve to protect the environment by preventing
their release into nearby water bodies or soil.
2- Water Quality Improvement: By lowering the acidity and heavy metal concentration of
the water, these plants help to enhance water quality and make it safer for consumption,
agriculture, and aquatic life.
3- Community Health: By purifying acid mine water, these facilities improve the health and
welfare of the local population by lowering the danger of water-borne illnesses and
polluting local water supplies.
Disadvantages:
1- High Operational Costs: Running and maintaining acid mine water treatment systems can
be expensive because they need a lot of money for the equipment to be maintained and
regularly monitored during the treatment process.
2- Energy Requirements: Some treatment procedures could call for a significant quantity of
energy, which could result in high energy use and related environmental effects like
increased carbon emissions.
3- Management of leftover Waste: Treatment procedures may produce leftover waste, such
as sludge or other byproducts, which must be handled carefully to avoid additional
environmental deterioration.

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 3- The Johkasou system:
In the 1950s, Japanese stipulated the
structural standards for domestic
wastewater treatment using the Johkasou
system (Johka means purification, sou
means tank).

the Johkasou system is complex as a result

of it’s processes variety. For example, the
Johkasou system includes the three main
wastewater treatment processes which are
biological, physical and chemical process.

Figure 1.25: The Johkasou System

It includes biological process in which it
uses microorganisms as bacteria and algae to decompose and break down the organic matters
that results from the human wastes in order to utilize those organic materials in different
fields like producing fertilizers for plant nutrition and improving the physical and chemical
properties of soil. This process takes place in the anaerobic filter tank where solid matters are
separated while sludge is stored (physical process). Subsequently, at the contact aeration
tank, the metobus and caenomorpha bacteria oxidizes ammonia and degrades organic
matters.
Later, sedimentation tank separates suspended solids from treated water through
sedimentation, and supernatant is sent into disinfection tank (chemical process).
Advantages:
1-It can be installed in a small which equalizes one parking spot at each household, unused
space and does not require any complicated procedures or costs such as acquisition of a land
for installation.
2-Includes advanced treatments as removal of nitrogen and phosphorus.
3-It is resilient to natural disasters like earthquakes as a result of the absence of complicated
piping systems or huge mechanical apparatus.

Disadvantages:
Johkasou systems are not suitable for areas particularly those areas with high ground water levels
or unstable soil conditions.

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 It requires regular maintenance which includes sludge removal and filter cleaning, which can
be time consuming and costly.

4- Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant

Expansion :

The construction market in North America is

forecasted by Global Data to grow by 1.9% in
real terms in 2023, having decreased by 5.7% in
2022. A key growth market will be the
infrastructure market, with output rising by
11.1% in real terms. Global Data tracks and
profiles all major construction projects from
announcement to completion. For further insight
on this market.
Figure 1.26: Iona Island Wastewater Treatment

Organizational projects like wastewater treatment plant expansions are commonly undertaken to
support expanding populations and changing environmental regulations. They are intended to
protect adjacent waters and ecosystems while increasing the facility's capacity and efficacy in
processing sewage. Such projects usually involve constructing new treatment facilities,
upgrading existing equipment, and implementing more advanced treatment processes to meet
higher water quality standards.
Advantages:
1. Enhanced Treatment Capacity: By expanding, the plant can manage more wastewater and
meet the demands of expanding industrial activity and population.
2. Compliance with rules: Upgrading and expanding the plant can help it meet or exceed
environmental rules and water quality standards, decreasing the risk of non-compliance and the
related fines.
3.Better Water Quality: During growth, advanced treatment technologies can be added,
producing better-quality treated water that is advantageous to the regional ecosystems and
environment.
4.Health and Public Safety: Wastewater that has been properly treated lowers the risk of
waterborne illnesses and safeguards public health.
5. Economic Benefits: Expansion projects may result in the creation of jobs during the
development and operation phases, a boost to the local economy, and even the luring of new
businesses and inhabitants.

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Disadvantages:

1. High expenditures: Expenses for building, technological advancements, maintenance, and

operational costs can all add up in wastewater treatment plant expansion projects. Municipal
budgets may be strained as a result, and utility bills for citizens may rise.
2. Environmental Impact: The plant's expansion and continuous operation could have an impact
on the environment through increased energy use, emissions, and the release of treated effluent
into nearby bodies of water, which could impact ecosystems and water quality.
3.building Disruptions: The building phase may cause noise, traffic congestion, and potential
harm to neighborhood businesses and quality of life for locals.

4. Uncertain Future Needs: Future industrial and population developments may not be
sufficiently considered if a plant is expanded based on existing requirements. Because resources
are spent on infrastructure that might not be used to their full potential, overcapacity can be just
as inefficient as undercapacity.
5. Operation and Maintenance Challenges: An increased facility's complexity might make it
difficult to operate and maintain it effectively. Effective operation of the plant necessitates
qualified employees and adequate resources.
6.Local opposition: Local communities may oppose expansion projects if they fear potential
environmental effects, such as noise, odor, and the effect on property prices.

The treatment of wastewater in a wastewater treatment plant typically involves a combination of

physical, biological, and chemical processes to effectively remove contaminants and pollutants.
Here's a breakdown of the types of treatment methods based on their nature:

Physical Treatment:

Screening: Physical treatment involves removing large particles and debris from the wastewater
using screens or bar racks. The main removal approach in this process is physical removal. Sand,
gravel, and other heavy materials are removed using cyclone separators or other settling
techniques as part of another physical treatment approach called grit removal.

Biological Treatment:

In wastewater treatment plants, biological treatment is a crucial part of secondary treatment. To

break down organic debris and nutrients in the wastewater, microorganisms (bacteria and other

40 | P a g e
microbes) are used. Lagoons, trickling filters, sequencing batch reactors, and activated sludge
processes are examples of common biological treatment techniques. Aeration is a biological
process that involves the addition of air or oxygen to promote the development of
microorganisms and aid in the biological disintegration of organic materials.

Chemical Treatment:

Depending on the specific goals, chemical treatment is applied at different phases of the
wastewater treatment process. To aid in the coagulation, flocculation, and precipitation of
pollutants, chemicals are added to the wastewater. In the first therapeutic stage, this is frequently
used. Disinfection: To destroy or deactivate dangerous bacteria and pathogens in the treated
effluent, chemicals like chlorine or ozone are applied during chemical treatment. Typically, this
is the last stage of the healing process.

5- The Berlin-Waßmannsdorf Wastewater Treatment Plant:

is one of the most innovative and sustainable

wastewater treatment plants in the world. It
serves a population of over 1.5 million people
and treats an average of 180,000 cubic meters
of wastewater per day. The plant uses a variety
of innovative technologies to treat wastewater
efficiently and effectively, while also
minimizing its environmental impact.
The scientific idea of the project that lead to
the key of wastewater treatment is the usage of
membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. The
(MBR) is a technique in which a
semipermeable membrane filters out solids and
bacteria from wastewater. This process is Figure 1.27: The Berlin-Waßmannsdorf Wastewater
effective at production of high quality effluent Treatment Plant:
that is allowed to be discharged into environment without harming it.
Another feature of the Berlin-Waßmannsdorf project is energy efficiency in which it uses a
technique called biogas cogeneration which uses methyl gas produced from the digestion of
sludge to produce heat and electricity.

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Advantages:
1-Production of high quality effluent due to the presence of the MBR that make the filtered water
allowed to flow into the environment with causing pollution.
2-Energy efficiency in which the Berlin-Waßmannsdorf project’s required energy is mostly
produced from project itself, using a technique called biogas cogeneration.
3-Sustainability is another advantage of the German project in which its use of renewable energy
make it a sustainable wastewater treatment solution.
Disadvantages:
1-High initial cost in which the required cost for building a MBR wastewater treatment is more
expensive than a traditional wastewater treatment plant.

2-Complexity also is very annoying problem because the MBR wastewater treatment is very
hard to operate relative to the traditional wastewater treatment plant.
3-Maintenance requirements in which the MBR wastewater treatment plants require more
maintenance than traditional wastewater treatment plants.

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II-Generating and defending a solution:

I- Solution and design requirements:

The solution requirements:
 Efficiency:
The project must achieve our goals.
 Eco-friendly:
 The project must be eco-friendly and not affect the environment badly.
 Safety:
The project must be safe for all living organisms and the environment. So, the safety
precautions should be followed:
 Materials:
The materials for the project must be of high quality to have the best results, safety for
use, and abundance.
 Applicable:
The design of the project must be applicable in real life by ensuring the place where it will be
constructed and the abundance of materials that will be used to implement it.

Every good project must have design requirements to measure its success and if the project achieved all
of them, that refers to the success of the project. So, we have chosen some considerations that the project
must achieve to be our design requirements and we will test it to make sure that we achieved all the
design requirements. These design requirements are chosen by which are:
Design Requirements:
1-Sufficient wastewater sample collection is required for the watering of the plants in the agricultural
experiment.

2-The use of factory wastewater is not permitted.

3-In addition to untreated and city water, at least three samples of treated water should be available to
each team: one sample should have undergone one procedure, the second should have undergone two, and
the third should have undergone three processes.

4-Two toxic elements, which were highly recorded in the pre-analysis in the most successfully grown
plant, will be traced by each team.

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5-The same plants should be used for all test cases by the students.
6-The gradual growth of plants in all pots should be monitored by the students every 5 days.

II-Selection of solution:
-From all the solution that already tried , The best was the Johkasou system. Due to its complexity and
advanced biological technique that it uses. In addition to its various process, It uses coagulation technique
as a chemical treatment to aggregate all polluted ions together to form flocs can be removed by filter
paper known as flocculation technique. As a result, this prior solution was chosen to be a primer for our
chemical and physical technique.

-After making research, It was decided to choose sewage water for many reasons such as; quantity, never-
ending, and agricultural benefits.

-From all the waste water types around the world, the type that represent the major part is the sewage
water. it was estimated that 2.9 billion cubic meters of sewage were produced each day.

-As humans can’t live without using water in home usage so the sewage water never ends as humans
exist. Whenever we flush the toilet, take a shower, or wash dishes, sewage water is produced.
-As sewage water is the most type of wastewater that contains the organic matters from human waste, so
this waste can act as fertilizers for the plant nutrition and soil fertility. So the treatment of sewage water
can reduce the irrigation of fresh water for agriculture, provide nutrients for crops, and Improves soil
health.

- After choosing the sewage water for treatment, It was collected from a certified wastewater purification
plant. 20 liters were collected as a starting point to analyze the water data such as TDS, pH level,
dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and nutrient levels.
1.5 liters of sewage water have been analyzed in the Agriculture Research Center and the results
appeared in one week.

- The collected sewage water in bottles will be treated through multiple steps:
I- A physical treatment of sewage water will be conducted as a first treatment which
will be adsorption technique : this technique involves using adsorbent materials
such as : activated carbon that attracts and bind contaminants of water which poke
putrid odors and affect water’s taste on the surface requiring exothermic energy
due to decreasing in the residual attractive forces of the adsorbent and surface
energy of it as well.
II- If this treatment is identified as not ample for the convenient treatment of water
for its utilization in farming , then the second treatment will be conducted for
sewage water that is a chemical treatment technique known as coagulation by
using coagulant called ferric chloride convenient for our pH of waste water ( 7.41
pH) ; moreover , ferric chloride is activated from 7.4 – 8.5 pH that will trap the
contaminated ions forming sludge at the bottom can be filtered by a third
physical treatment named flocculation by using a filter paper.

44 | P a g e
 III- The second part of our solution is farming process:
It was decided to choose mentha spicata from the lamiaceae species to be planted due to its
importance to Egypt’s economic ; moreover , its marvelous and colossal impacts on our health
and lives such as :
a- Prevention of indigestion.
b- Relieving headaches.
c- Clearing our noses during coughing.
d- Alleviating fatigue.
e- Helping with skin care.
f- Weight loss.
g- Prevention of asthma.
h- Oral care to prevent formation of biofilms in our mouth.
i- Prevention of certain types of cancer.
It was found that this plant is convenient for our design requirements which is a soil known as
loam differentiated into 50% sand and 50% clay ; moreover , it does not require considerable
amount of fertilizers. In addition , its seeds will be germinated rapidly so it is easy to measure its
growth parameters each 5 days as required in our challenge this semester opposite to other plants
that germinate within months and years.
5 Planting pots will be brought to plant 5 samples of mentha spicata with the following samples
of water:
- Clean water.
- Sewage wastewater.
- Wastewater treated with physical treatment.
- Wastewater treated with physical and chemical treatment.
- Wastewater treated with physical , chemical and physical treatment.
The third part of our solution is the most essential one that will pinpoint if our solution met the
design requirements or not:
Plant growth parameters will be measured for each of the 5 samples of planting pots through
various techniques for example:
1- Height of plant’s stem.
2- Number of leaves.
3- Using auxanometer device to measure the length of plant.
4- Using equation of leaves number to identify the growth rate :
L2−L1
T

45 | P a g e
 Where L2 is the number of leaves measured after second growth and L 1 is the number of
leaves measured after first growth and T is the time taken throughout the first and second
growth.
5- Measuring chlorophyll a concentration of the plant by using spectrophotometry
instrument which is one of the most popular techniques and cheapest one that take 1-5
minutes for sample processing time with estimated detection time 0.08 mg/L 6 (using a 1
cm cell ) with a narrow band width ( pass) at multiple wavelengths and using 80%
acetone mixed with the leaf.

III- Selection of prototype:

Because it is focused on simplicity, our prototype is designed to be used in the future with
modest alterations by all governmental organizations and public infrastructures. The following
characteristics should be included in our prototype's design:
1. Sufficient wastewater sample collection is required for the watering of the plants in the
agricultural experiment.

2. In addition to untreated water and city water, at least three samples of treated water
should be available to each team: one sample should have undergone one procedure, the
second should have undergone two, and the third should have undergone three processes.

3. Two toxic elements, which were highly recorded in the pre-analysis in the most
successfully grown plant, will be traced by each team.

4. The same plants should be used for all test cases by the students.

5. The gradual growth of plants in all pots should be monitored by the students every 5
days.

The idea we chose is separated into three parts (three types of treatment), which is:
First part “physical treatment”
After the analysis was done , a physical treatment for wastewater will be conducted called
adsorption by adding activated carbon in a filtration system composed of sand and small gravels
to exclude the heavy metals and large particles in waste water
Second part “chemical treatment”

46 | P a g e
The coagulant depends on the pH of the water. The pH of our water is 7.41, so ferric chloride
(FeCl3) will be used . It was stirred in the water for 3 minutes quickly and then from 20 to 30
minutes slowly and leaving it for 3 hours to make flocculation. Then there will be a Precipitate
called “FLOC”.
Third part “physical treatment”
A filter paper will be used to remove the precipitate (FLOC) from our water.
So a water treatment system will be constructed to summarize the three treatment processes
including firstly water treatment physically by adsorption then the next stage ( step of ladder)
represent treatment of water physically and chemically , and the third stage represent the
treatment of water physically , chemically and physically.

Figure 2.1: Water treatment system

Type of water:
The type of wastewater used is sewage water and it is the water released from households after
it has been used for various purposes like washing dishes, laundry, flushing the toilet.

How we achieved our design requirements:

1. We got 20 liters of sewage water in two small tanks everyone is 10 liters.
2. We made three samples. The first sample is treated by one type of treatment only
(physical treatment). The second sample is treated by two types of treatment ( physical
and chemical). The third sample is treated by three types of treatments (physical then
chemical then physical)
3. Mint plant is used in all our samples as a part of our prototype.
4. Two highly toxic elements were recorded in terms of quantities in the most successful
grown plant.

47 | P a g e
 5. The growth of our plant is measured every 5 days and documented the length of the roots
to see its growth.

III-Constructing and Testing a Prototype:

Materials and Methods:

Materials:
Amount
Material & Cost
Usage Image
Sewage 20 liters Our targeted
collected water for
water treatment.

Ferric 10 Act as
grams coagulant for
chloride for 100 the chemical
(FeCl3) L.E. treatment of
water
(coagulation)
.

Filter Three Separate the

for 5 flocs from
paper L.E. water during
filtration
process.

48 | P a g e
Activated 100 Has a main
grams role in the
carbon for 50 adsorption
L.E. process of
heavy
metals.

Mentha 15 Mint The seeds

packs will test the
spicata for 15 efficiency of
seeds L.E. treated water
and its
quality for
agriculture.

Pots 5 pots Act as a

for 25 container for
L.E. the soil
where the
plant access
water and
nutrients.

Soil 50%clay Source for

and 50% the plant
sand nutrients.
collected

49 | P a g e
Containe 1 To hold the
containe water in it
r r
collected

Plastic 5 They are

collected used in water
bottles treatment
process to
carry all
types of
water used

Sprayers 5 for 10 To irrigate

L.E. each planting pots
with each
type of water
in each
sprayer

Methods:

50 | P a g e
 1- Water treatment system was constructed of MDF wood of thickness 6 ml to
prevent its breaking , then making two large pieces of it ,finally , it was
inserted into an equipment to reform it into shape of ladder of three steps.
2- 20 Liters of wastewater from sewage was collected from sewage stations.

3- Analysis of wastewater was done at the national research center to identify the
pollutants in water whether organic or inorganic qualitatively and the results
appeared in a week. Figure 3.1: Physical Treatment of water (Adsorption)

4- After the analysis was done, a physical treatment for wastewater was
conducted called adsorption by adding activated carbon in a filtration system
composed of sand and small gravels to exclude the heavy metals and large
particles in wastewater.

5- Then, chemical treatment of wastewater occurred

by coagulation method through adding a coagulant
called ferric chloride (FeCl3) of 270 mL / L of
water.

Initially, it was stirred by magnetic stirrer quickly for 1 minute then

slowly at 35 rpm for 3 minutes then left to form sludge at the bottom
for about 1 hour. This coagulant will aggregate all the dissolved
polluted ions to form larger particles called flocs.

Figure 3.2: Chemical Treatment of waste

water (Coagulation)
6- These flocs were separated by filtration using a filter
paper as a third physical treatment.So, three
treatments for water were conducted by using 2
methods: particularly, physical, and chemical.

7- Mentha spicata seeds are bought; moreover, 5

planting pots for irrigation process

Figure 3.3: Physical treatment of water (

7- The 5 pots each will be irrigated by specific type flocculation)
of water of 0.6 L per week: city water, wastewater ,
water treated with physical treatment ( one method) , water treated with physical
and chemical treatments ( two methods ) , water treated with physical , chemical
and physical treatments ( three methods )

51 | P a g e
 Figure 3.4: Planting pot irrigated with wastewater. Figure 3.5: Planting pot irrigated with water treated by three
processes.

Figure 3.6: Planting pot irrigated with two processes.

Figure 3.7: Planting pot irrigated with water treated by one

process.

Figure 3.8: Planting pot irrigated with city water.

8-Pots will be irrigated with 0.6 Liters of water every 5 days for each pot.

52 | P a g e
 9-The growth of plants will be tracked every 5 days through measuring length of
roots, shoot , number of leaves and chlorophyll content.

All these methods are done under safety precautions such as: wearing gloves for hand
protection, wearing masks to prevent bad odors of wastewater or spread of microbes into our
noses; moreover , wearing coats to prevent attachment of pollutants to our clothes and skin
irritation ; finally , putting on goggles to protect our eyes from chemicals used during
treatment processes.
Test Plan:

Our six design requirements are: -

1-Sufficient wastewater sample collection is required for the watering of the plants in the agricultural
experiment.
This design requirement was met through:
-Using sewage water of 20 liters and getting it from Alsalam sewage water treatment plant as it is from
trusted source, so we used it in irrigation of the plant to compare it with city water and different water
treatments.
2-The use of factory wastewater is not permitted.
-This design requirement was met as we did not collect this water, on the other hand; sewage water was
collected by us.

3-In addition to untreated and city water, at least three samples of treated water should be available to
each team: one sample should have undergone one procedure, the second should have undergone two, and
the third should have undergone three processes.
- This was met by conducting three treatments of water, firstly a physical treatment called adsorption by
using activated carbon, the second treatment was a chemical one called coagulation by using ferric
chloride, the third and final treatment was physical treatment by using filter paper to remove flocs
accumulated by coagulation.

4-Two toxic elements, which were highly recorded in the pre-analysis in the most successfully grown
plant, will be traced by each team.
It was met by: - measuring iron and manganese concentrations in the most successfully grown plant and
to compare the results between it and their quantities in pre-analysis of wastewater.
5-The same plants should be used for all test cases by the students.
-The same plant was used for all samples which is Mentha spicata in
different five pots.
6-The gradual growth of plants in all pots should be monitored by the
teams every 5 days.

53 | P a g e
It was done by taking our measurements of plants every five days, as we set the measurements which we
will use in the test plans which are: The length of shoot system, root system by using ruler and the
number of leaves manually.

7- Plants should be a part of the prototype

This was done by considering plants as a part of the prototype and supplement to water treatment
system.
The first test plan was done on 5 pots after 5 days then Figure 3.9: Plant growth of water treated physically
second one was done after 10 days and the third one was done after 15 days by measuring plant
parameters for each test plan.

Figure 3.11: Plant growth of treated water physically, chemically and

physically in 10 days

Figure 3.10: Plant growth of treated water physically

and chemically in 10 days

Figure 3.13: Plant growth of wastewater in 10

Figure 3.12: Plant growth of city water in 10 days
D days ata

Collection:

54 | P a g e
 -After first planting pot of Mentha spicata was irrigated with city water of about 0.6 L per
week, its behavior was tracked each 5 days

- Length of root or shoot of plant was measured by using ruler with measurement error
ranges between ± 0.1 ¿± 0.2 cm
- The number of leaves were counted by naked eye along the root and shoot of plant.

The measurements were found during the three test plans as follows:

Table 3.1: Growth Parameters of Planting pot with city water

Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves

Figure 3.14: Parameters of Plant 1 in 10 days ( root , shoot
5 days for 1 test 3.6 ± 0.1 cm
st
10.7 ±0.2 cm 6 Leaves
length and No.ofper plant
leaves)
plan
10 days for 2nd test 7.9 ±0.1 cm 12.3 ± 0.2 cm 24 Leaves per plant
plan
15 days for 3rd test 12.9 ± 0.1 cm 14.5 ±0.2 cm 35 Leaves per plant
plan

After the second planting pot of Mentha spicata was

irrigated with wastewater of about 0.6 L per week, its
behavior was tracked every 5 days.

The measurements were found during the three test

plans as follows:

Figure 3.15: Parameters of Plant 2 of wastewater

Table 3.2: Growth Parameters of Planting pot with wastewater

55 | P a g e
Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves
5 days for 1 test 5.3 ± 0.1 cm
st
10 ±0.2 cm 25 Leaves per plant
plan
10 days for 2nd test 11.1 ±0.1 cm 12.9 ± 0.2 cm 37 Leaves per plant
plan
15 days for 3rd test 17.2 ±0.1 cm 17.9 ±0.2 cm 42 Leaves per plant
plan
After third planting pot of Mentha spicata was irrigated with wastewater treated by physical
treatment (adsorption) of about 0.6 L per week, its behavior was tracked each 5 days

The measurements were found during the three test plans as follows:

Figure 3.16 : Plant 3 of water treated physically

Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves
5 days for 1 test 8.5 ±0.1 cm
st
2.7 ± 0.2 cm 3
plan
10 days for 2nd test 11.4 ±0.1 cm 5.6 ± 0.2 cm 8
plan
15 days for 3rd test 15.8 ±0.1 cm 8.3 ± 0.2 cm 11
plan
Table 3.3: Growth Parameters of Planting pot with water treated physically.

After fourth planting pot of Mentha spicata was irrigated with waste water treated by
physical (adsorption) and chemical (coagulation) of about 0.6 L per week, its behavior was
tracked each 5 days

The measurements were found during the three test plans to be:

56 | P a g e
 Figure 3.17: Plant 4 of water treated
Table 3.4: Growth Parameters of Planting pot with water treated physically physically and chemically
and chemically.

Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves

5 days for 1 test 4.8 ±0.1 cm
st
7.5 ±0.2 cm 14
plan
10 days for 2nd test 11.6 ±0.1 cm 16 ± 0.2 cm 90 leaves /3 roots =
plan 30 leaves per root
15 days for 3rd test 18 ± 0.1 cm 21.4 ±0.2 cm 48
plan
After fifth planting pot of Mentha spicata was irrigated with waste water treated by physical ( adsorption )
,chemical ( coagulation ) , physical ( flocculation ) treatment of about 0.6 L per week , its behavior was
tracked each 5 days

The measurements were found during the three test plans to be:
Table 3.5: Growth Parameters of Planting pot with water treated physically, chemically and physically

Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves

5 days for 1 test 3.3 ± 0.1 cm
st
±
15.1 Figure
0.2 cm 10 5 of water treated physically ,
3.18: Growth of plant
plan chemically and physically
10 days for 2nd test 4.5 ±0.1 cm 16.7 ± 0.2 cm 50/2 = 25 leaves per
plan root
15 days for 3rd test 8.9 ± 0.1 cm 18.6 ±0.2 cm 32
plan

Finally, the comparison between the five planting

pots shows efficiency of waste water treatment
process according to testing the parameters of
plants irrigated with city water, waste water,
wastewater treated with physical treatment ( adsorption) , then physical with chemical treatment
( coagulation) , then physical , chemical and another physical treatment ( flocculation)

Table 3.6: Summary of the three test plans

Plant Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves

Planting pot 5 days 3.6 ± 0.1 cm 10.7 ±0.2 cm 6 Leaves per plant
irrigated with city 10 days 7.9 ±0.1 cm 12.3 ± 0.2 cm 24 Leaves per
water 15 days 12.9 ± 0.1 cm 14.5 ±0.2 cm plant
35 Leaves per
plant

Planting pot 5 days 5.3 ± 0.1 cm 12.4 ±0.2 cm 25 Leaves per

irrigated with 10 days 11.1 ±0.1 cm 12.9 ± 0.2 cm plant
wastewater 15 days 17.2 ±0.1 cm 17.9 ±0.2 cm 37 Leaves per
plant
42 Leaves per

57 | P a g e
 plant
Planting pot 5 days 8.5 ±0.1 cm 2.7 ± 0.2 cm 3
irrigated with one 10 days 11.4 ±0.1 cm 5.6 ± 0.2 cm 8
treatment (physical) 15 days 15.8 ±0.1 cm 8.3 ± 0.2 cm 11

Planting pot 5 days 4.8 ±0.1 cm 7.5 ±0.2 cm 14 Leaves per

irrigated with two 10 days 11.6 ±0.1 cm 16 ± 0.2 cm plant
treatments (physical 15 days 18 ± 0.1 cm 21.4 ±0.2 cm 30 leaves per root
and chemical) 48
Planting pot 5 days 3.3 ± 0.1 cm 15.1 ±0.2 cm 10
irrigated with three 10 days 4.5 ±0.1 cm 16.7 ± 0.2 cm 50/2 = 25 per root
treatments 15 days 8.9 ± 0.1 cm 18.6 ±0.2 cm 32
(physical , chemical ,
physical)

-Chlorophyll A content was increased from 1.36 µg/ g FW in plant irrigated with waste water to
1.78 µg/g FW in one irrigated with water treated by two methods , while Chlorophyll B
increased from 0.98 µg/g FW to 1.056 µg/g FW respectively by using chlorophyll meter
equipment. as well as Iron as toxic element reduced from 1.72 mg/100 g FW in analysis of waste
water to 0.56 mg/ 100 g FW in most successfully grown plant ; moreover , Manganese reduced
from 3.21 mg / 100 g FW in pre-analysis of wastewater to 2.540 mg/100 g FW in most
successfully grown plant irrigated with water treated physically and chemically, Dry weight
reduced from 1.89 g in plant irrigated with waste water to 1.61g in most successfully grown
plant.

58 | P a g e
 Evaluation, Reflection, Recommendations:
I- Analysis and Discussion

Our prototype met our design requirements and became successful achieving its goals
, thereby solving Egyptian grand challenges which are -Managing and increasing
sources of clean water by treatment of polluted sewage water to make the most of it
and keep clean water from being polluted or
exploited -Recycling garbage and waste for
economic and environmental purposes by
using recycled wood for constructing water
treatment system and unused plastic bottles
to collect samples of water to keep the
environment clean. - Increase the industrial
and agricultural bases of Egypt by utilizing
treatments of water to be used in irrigation of
pivotal crops such as Mentha spicata. -
Address and reduce pollution fouling our
air, water, and soil by treatment of sewage
water with three processes by two
remediation methods physical and chemical
to reduce pollution of water and soil as well.
The pre-analysis of sewage water collected was
conducted at the national research center as follows:

Figure 4.1 : Pre-analysis of waste water

-Our pH of wastewater was found to be “7.41”, after treatment

of water physically and chemically, the pH was found to be
8.25 to be suitable for irrigation of Mentha spicata that is
grown best in a pH range between 7.5-85

59 | P a g e
Moreover, Analysis for the soil was conducted as well to track the quantities and qualities of
nutrients existed in it to be suitable for some
pivotal crops such as Mentha spicata.

Figure 4.3: Soil Analysis

Furthermore, Analysis for the toxic elements , chlorophyll

content and dry weight were conducted in most successful
grown plant and plant irrigated with waste water as follows:

This table shows summaries of results of plant growth

parameters including root length , shoot length and number of

60 | P a g e
leaves of 5 planting pots : one irrigated with city water , second with waste water , third with
water treated physically , fourth with water treated physically and chemically , fifth and finally
with water treated physically , chemically and physically that were tracked every 5 days in
conjunction , first 5 days as 1st test plan , second 5 days ( after 10 days) as 2 nd test plan , third 5
days ( after 15 days ) as 3rd test plan.

Figure 4.4: Analysis of plant

Table 4.1 Summary of the three test plans

Plant Period Root length Shoot Length Number of leaves

Planting pot irrigated 5 days 3.6 ± 0.1 cm 10.7 ±0.2 cm 6 Leaves per plant
with city water 10 days 7.9 ±0.1 cm 12.3 ± 0.2 cm 24 Leaves per
15 days 12.9 ± 0.1 cm 14.5 ±0.2 cm plant
35 Leaves per
plant

Planting pot irrigated 5 days 5.3 ± 0.1 cm 12.4 ±0.2 cm 25 Leaves per
with wastewater 10 days 11.1 ±0.1 cm 12.9 ± 0.2 cm plant
15 days 17.2 ±0.1 cm 17.9 ±0.2 cm 37 Leaves per
plant
42 Leaves per
plant
Planting pot irrigated 5 days 8.5 ±0.1 cm 2.8 ± 0.2 cm 3 Leaves per plant
with one treatment 10 days 11.4 ±0.1 cm 5.6 ± 0.2 cm 8 Leaves per plant
(physical) 15 days 15.8 ±0.1 cm 8.3 ± 0.2 cm 11 Leaves per
plant

Planting pot irrigated 5 days 4.8 ±0.1 cm 7.5 ±0.2 cm 14 Leaves per
with two treatments 10 days 11.6 ±0.1 cm 16 ± 0.2 cm plant
(physical and 15 days 18 ± 0.1 cm 21.4 ±0.2 cm 30 leaves per root
chemical) 48 Leaves per
plant
Planting pot irrigated 5 days 3.3 ± 0.1 cm 15.1 ±0.2 cm 10 Leaves per
with three treatments 10 days 4.5 ±0.1 cm 16.7 ± 0.2 cm plant
(physical, chemical, 15 days 8.9 ± 0.1 cm 18.6 ±0.2 cm 50/2 = 25 per root
physical) 32 Leaves per
plant

61 | P a g e
- Growth rate was tracked for each planting pot of the five pots for the first 5 days and last 5 days ( after
L2−L1
15 days ) as in the following table (6) according to the following law where L2 is final length and
T 2−T 1
L1 is Initial length and T2 is final time and T1 is initial time.

Table 4.2: Growth rate of 5 planting pots

Growth Rate Planting Planting pot Planting pot Planting pot Planting pot
irrigated with irrigated with irrigated with irrigated with irrigated with
city water wastewater water treated water treated water treated
physically physically physically ,
and chemically
chemically and
physically
Root length Rate = 0.93 Rate = 1.19 Rate = 0.73 Rate = 1.32 Rate=0.56
Shoot Length Rate = 0.38 Rate = 0.55 Rate = 0.55 Rate = 1.39 Rate=0.35
Number of Rate = 2.9 Rate = 1.7 Rate = 0.8 Rate = 3.4 Rate=2.5
leaves

- It was found that from planting pot irrigated with city water, The
average values along each 5 days repeated 3 times were found as
follows:
3.6+7.9+12.9
Root Length = ≈ 8.1cm
3
10.7+12.3+14.5
Shoot length = =12.5 cm
3
6+24+ 35
Number of leaves = ≈ 22
3

- It was found that from planting pot irrigated with wastewater, The
average values along each 5 days repeated 3 times were found as
follows:
5.3+11.1+17.2
Root Length = =11.2cm
3
12.4+12.9+17.9
Shoot length = =14.4 cm
3
25+37+ 42
Number of leaves = ≈ 35
3

- It was found that from planting pot irrigated with water treated
physically, the average values along each 5 days repeated 3 times
were found as follows:
8.5+11.4+15.8
Root Length = =11.9 cm
3

62 | P a g e
 2.8+5.6+8.3
Shoot length = ≈ 5.6 cm
3
3+8+11
Number of leaves = ≈7
3

- It was found that from planting pot irrigated with water treated
physically and chemically, the average values along each 5 days
repeated 3 times were found as follows:
4.8+11.6 +18
Root Length = ≈ 11.5 cm
3
7.5+16+21.4
Shoot length = ≈ 15 cm
3
14+30+ 48
Number of leaves = ≈ 30
3

- It was found that from planting pot irrigated with water treated
physically and chemically, the average values along each 5 days
repeated 3 times were found as follows:
3.3+4.5+ 8.9
Root Length = ≈ 5.6 cm
3
15.1+ 16.7+18.6
Shoot length = =16.8 cm
3
10+25+32
Number of leaves = ≈ 22
3
During measuring the root length of this planting pot, a measurement
error was done by us to be a human error which was cutting part of
root without intentions during extraction of a sample of plant with its
shoot and root system so inaccurate measurements were done in
calculating the root length as part of it was immersed in the soil as a
negative result of our prototype throughout the entire project.

To conclude these summaries, it was found that planting pot irrigated

with water treated physically and chemically showed better results
than the other 4 pots with 30 leaves per plant, 15 cm of shoot length,
11.5 cm of root length that indicates water sources can be managed
and increased as well as increasing agricultural base of Egypt by
utilizing this treated water in irrigation of crops such as Mentha
spicata.

Unfortunately, it was found that planting pot irrigated with water treated
physically had lower and not efficient results than the other 4 pots with 7
leaves per plant, 5.6 cm of shoot length and 11.9 cm of root length. So, it
won’t be efficient to use water treated only physically in irrigation of crops
over large scale, thus reducing agricultural bases of Egypt.

63 | P a g e
 -The following graph Root length growth for the 5 planting
demonstrates the pots
average root length
20
of 5 planting pots:
18
16
14

Root Length ( cm )
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
5 days 10 days 15 days
Figure 4.5 : Root length growth for 5 planting pots
Time ( Days)

The following graph indicates Pot 1 Pot2 Pot 3 Pot 4 Pot 5

the shoot length of 5 planting
pots over 15 days as a growth parameter during the three test plans:

25
Shoot Length for 5 planting pots

20
Shoot length (cm)

15

10

0
5 10 15
Time ( Days)
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 Pot 5

Figure 4.6: Shoot length for 5 planting pots

The following graph indicates the number of leaves of 5 planting pots over 15 days as a growth
parameter during the three test plans:

64 | P a g e
 Number of leaves of 5 planting pots
The
60

50
Growth rate of most successfully grown
40 plant
Number of leaves

30

20

10 1.32; 22% Root Length

Shoot Length
0
Number of leaves
5 10 15
3.4; 56% Time ( Days)

Pot 1 1.339;
Pot 222% Pot 3 Pot 4 Pot 5

following
pie chart
shows the
growth
rate of
most successfully grown plant:

Figure 4.8 : Growth rate of most successful plant

65 | P a g e
 -Chlorophyll A content was increased from 1.36 µg/ g FW in plant irrigated with
waste water to 1.78 µg/g FW in one irrigated with water treated by two methods ,
while Chlorophyll B increased from 0.98 µg/g FW to 1.056 µg/g FW respectively by
using chlorophyll meter equipment. as well as Iron as toxic element reduced from
1.72 mg/100 g FW in analysis of waste water to 0.56 mg/ 100 g FW in most
successfully grown plant ; moreover , Manganese reduced from 3.21 mg / 100 g FW
in pre-analysis of wastewater to 2.540 mg/100 g FW in most successfully grown plant
irrigated with water treated physically and chemically, Dry weight reduced from 1.89
g in plant irrigated with waste water to 1.61g in most successfully grown plant.

II-Recommendations:
Recommendations for the future work:
1- Increasing the efficiency of the activated carbon through increasing its surface area as
possible because the more ratio of surface area to volume increase the rate of the reaction
between the carbon and nutrients making them more adsorbable.
2-Regenerating activated carbon through removing the adsorbed pollutants from its porous
structure to restore its adsorption capacity. This process could happen through thermal
regeneration.
3-Adjusting the pH of the wastewater to optimize the performance of the ferric chloride as it
requires specific medium conditions which is an acidic medium of 6 - 8 pH.
4-The quality of used materials is an affecting factor specially for the water containers. It is
recommended that those containers were built of glass not plastic because plastic can react with
water and may not hold up against the high acidity of water.

For the one who will make research starting from the terminal point of our research point, we
recommended developing the used materials like inventing an easy cheap way to use nano
activated carbon instead of the usual one.
Additionally, looking for new methods that uses biological treatments as they are inexpensive
relative to nano carbon in addition to their materials availability.

Engaging in the sewage wastewater treatment project enhanced our STEM team's
interdisciplinary skills, emphasizing the integration of chemistry, environmental science, and
engineering. The hands-on experience translated theoretical knowledge into practical solutions,

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fostering problem-solving skills. Research and experimental design cultivated a systematic
approach to optimizing processes. Critical thinking and complex problem-solving were honed,
preparing us for multifaceted challenges. Integration of advanced tools and technology enhanced
our literacy in evolving STEM practices. Communication skills improved through effective
documentation and presentations for diverse audiences. The project heightened environmental
awareness, emphasizing sustainability. Collaborative teamwork and ethical considerations
became integral, contributing to our development as responsible STEM practitioners.

III-Learning outcomes

Learning outcome Subject How it is useful In our capstone project ?

Area
LO 1 : Using evidence to Biology We used this learning outcome in choosing our
evaluate the trade-offs of modified seeds of mint ( mentha spicata) as we
using genetically modified have studied that there are some plants can be
food to support economic, modified to grow under different conditions of
social and environmental water availability impacting water needs for
sustainability. irrigation.
LO 1 : Chemistry We benefited from this learning outcome in
Concept : Quantitative knowing the concentration calculation laws such
analysis using molarity, as molarity, molality, normality, ppm, mole
molality, normality, ppm, fraction, and mass percentage.
mole fraction, mass In addition to knowing calculations the amount of
percentage, and TDS. dissolved salts (TDS) in the water to calculate the
Skill 1 : purification of the concentration of used Ferric chloride to remove the
water supply through pollutants ions.
process like reverse We also learned the total amount of needed salts
osmosis and and ions for human body to measure how should
electrodialysis. we purify water.

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 Skill 3 : Usage of activated We have studied why water is considered as
carbon to remove tastes universal solvent because of its polarity and how is
and colors. that harmful in which many ions and molecules
Skill 5 : Comparing react with it resulting in a pollution which should
between chemical, be solved by chemical treatment added to the
biological and physical physical one.
treatment.
LO 2 : Chemistry Understanding water's properties and colligative
Concept 1 : Water in the properties is crucial for effective sewage treatment.
environment. We use this knowledge to design filtration systems
Concept 5 : Colligative that remove pollutants and make wastewater safe
properties : elevation in for discharge. Polarity, solubility, and colligative
B.P. properties help us select appropriate treatment
depression in F.P. methods and optimize processes. Our chemistry
osmotic pressure. lessons provide a valuable framework for ensuring
clean and safe wastewater.

Learning outcome Subject How it is useful In our capstone project ?

Area
LO 6 : reversible reaction, Chemistry It is been learned that chemical equilibrium play a
dynamic equilibrium, and crucial role in sewage water treatment processes, as
Le Châtelet’s Principle. they govern the behavior of various chemical
reactions involved in pollutant removal and
wastewater remediation. By understanding the
principles of chemical equilibrium, we can optimize
treatment conditions, predict reaction outcomes, and
control the effectiveness of various treatment stages.
LO 3 : Earth Understanding the various processes that transfer
Concept 1 : Science water between different stores, such as evaporation,
Understanding Water condensation, precipitation, and infiltration, is crucial
Transfer Processes for managing water resources effectively. This
knowledge helps us identify potential sources of
Concept 2 : Assessing water for filtration and monitor the impact of human
Water Withdrawal activities on water availability. Most water supplies
Sources for filtration processes are withdrawn from either
surface water sources, like rivers and lakes, or
groundwater sources, like aquifers. Evaluating the
quality, quantity, and sustainability of these sources is
essential for ensuring a reliable supply of water for
filtration.

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 LO 4 : Earth We learned from this learning outcomes the
Skill 1 : Investigate Science importance of analyzing the susceptibility of different
Vulnerability of Water water sources, including the Nile River, canals, and
Resources. groundwater aquifers, to specific pollutants is
Skill 2: Construct Water essential for prioritizing protection efforts.
Treatment Models. Additionally. We have learned constructing water
Concept 1: Pollutants in treatment models for designing and optimizing water
Water Resources. treatment systems. These models helped us to predict
the performance of treatment processes and identify
potential problems.
LO 1 : Math We learned to make functions that could help us in
modeling and analyzing various aspects of the water
filtration process. For instance, we can use
polynomial functions to represent the concentration
of pollutants in water at different stages of filtration,
the flow rate of water through filters, and the
efficiency of different filtration methods.
Learning outcome Subject How it is useful In our capstone project ?
Area
LO 8 : Identifying Soil Earth Studying soil components and properties provided us
Components Science with a valuable foundation for understanding the role
of soil in testing the efficiency of our purified water
specifically through agriculture test.
LO 4 : The effect of Chemistry Adjusting the concentration of treatment chemicals,
concentration, pressure, such as activated carbon or ferric chloride, can be
surface area, optimized based on the collision theory. Higher
temperature and catalysis concentrations may be beneficial for increased
(including enzymes) on the collision frequency and more effective pollutant
rates of reactions. removal. Maintaining an optimal temperature in the
treatment process ensures that reactions proceed
efficiently. Controlling temperature influences the
kinetic energy of reacting particles, affecting
collision frequency and reaction rates.
LO 5 : Concept 2 : Chemistry Understanding activation energy and the role of
Activation energy. catalysts is crucial in wastewater treatment. Catalysts
like transition metals or biological enzymes can be
Concept 3 : Activated employed to enhance the efficiency of pollutant
molecules. removal processes. By lowering activation energy,
catalysts enable reactions to proceed under milder
conditions, reducing energy requirements and
improving overall treatment performance.
Implementation of these principles allows for the
design of more efficient and sustainable wastewater
treatment processes.

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