FECAL SLUDGE FUN
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
This is the “long reach” that was purchased to desludge the fecal sludge ponds in Kumasi. Unfortunately, some years ago it was driven too close to one of the ponds, tumbled in, and spoiled the motor. Fecal sludge management ponds need to routinely have solids removed in order to continue to function well. I have been assured that this machine is “spoiled” and not “finished.” We’ll see.
PUMP ENVY
Some of us get pretty excited by pumps. Here’s a workhorse – a 3 inch gasoline powered diaphragm pump. Bob is trying to get a 2 inch version for the FS2BD plant. This pump is currently being used in support of the de-sludging effort going on at the ponds.
DE-SLUDGING PROGRESS
This is one of two incoming ponds at the complex. Since it’s been years since the last removal of solids, grass has grown on top of the solids in the “pond.” They have removed a lot of material with a smaller track hoe, and are now figuring out how to get the grass out of the pond. The level of the pond was even with grade before the work started – the removed material will be landfilled after it has dried out a bit.
ANALYTICS
Bob has been helping the local Guinness brewery perform water sampling at the outflow of the fecal sludge ponds. On the left is one of the Guinness folks demonstrating the sampling technique that Bob has perfected over the last month. On the right is the methane production experiment that the FS2BD team is running to assess the effects of inoculants and substrates on methanogenesis.
SLUDGE DRYING
Much of the work on the biodiesel side of the project requires starting with dried fecal sludge. On the left is what remains of the drying beds that intern James constructed this spring. On the right, is Jeremy and Wilson’s new design.
DRY MEANS KEEPING THE RAIN OUT
Jeremy and Wilson built a roof for their drying beds, this, too, is an interim design as we intend to construct some “proper” beds out of concrete with a sturdier roof.
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