Application of Mwacafe plant for the removal of iron and manganese

High concentration of manganese and iron in groundwater above limits permissible for domestic water supply is becoming the most important challenge facing the rural water sector in Ghana. Up to 30% of drilled wells contain high levels of manganese, iron, arsenic and fluoride. A third of boreholes containing these substances are abandoned, whiles the rest are marginally used. This translates to about $ 900 lost of resources on every borehole drilled in the affected regions. Iron and manganese removal plants developed in the 1990s are ineffective, the major set back being short filter run. Recent research revealed that activated carbon prepared using charcoal, and iron oxide or manganese oxide coated quartz sand have high adsorption properties, which aid the removal of iron and manganese. Based on results of this study, the Mwacafe plant was developed. Available data on performance of Mwacafe indicate that a filter run of between 3 to 12 months is achieved.