Public Attitudes of Proposed Wind Farm

Public Attitudes of Proposed Wind FarmWith Irelands excellent current of air resources, swerve power has become one of the most rapidly growing sources of re overboldable efficiency in Ireland (Comhar, Nov 11). Many heap in Ireland claim to be in favour of intertwine maturateing, and maintain that wind power is good source of renewable energy, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, numerous people also believe that these wind develops spoil the scenery and may have a negative marrow on the topical anaesthetic landscape, as well as having negative effects on tourism in the atomic number 18a concerned. As plans to create a new wind give rise in County Clare have been put in motion, I wish to access the opinions of the citizens of West Clare on the proposed aspect of a wind farm on the western slope of Mount Callan.Aims and ObjectivesAs both the people of West Clare, and the wind farm itself, have to co-exist in the area in question, the opinions and attitud es of the local people are paramount in formulating an effective plan, and in executing it to final completion of the project. As the financial sustainability of the residents of the chosen area rely to begin with on agriculture and tourism, opinions given on the impact the building of a wind farm may have on both of these economic areas are crucial to effectively and smoothly completing the project.The aim of this project is to access the opinions and attitudes of the citizens in West Clare on the proposed construction of a wind farm on the western slope of Mount Callan.The main objectives of this survey are toAccess whether or not the citizens of West Clare stand up the use of wind power.Access whether or not the citizens of West Clare support or oppose the construction of a wind farm on Mount Callan.Access whether or not the citizens in West Clare believe that a wind farm would benefit their local economy.To find out the opinions of the citizens of West Clare, on the effects a wind farm would have on the local landscape.MethodologyStatistical analysis mapping can be used to combine valued and qualitative data accretion method actings. This is used to create a basis for the primary enquiry. I have used the statistical analysis mapping method to extract data from the nose count in order to help me identify my area of study. To provide appropriate information for my study, I have mapped data relating to location, age, gender and length of time life at the current location (Kitchin Tate, 2000).Kilmihil, Creegh and Liscasey are the three closest townlands to the proposed construction site of the wind farm. These three townlands have a combined population of 724 with 65% of people being over the age of twenty. Of the population over the age of twenty, 52% of them are male and 48% are female (CSO). I go away progeny a model of 100 people, 52 male and 48 female from the combined population of the three towns aged over twenty. I exit use systematic random sampling, selecting the fifth element at random, to conduct the questionnaire for quantitative data aggregation. These questionnaires go forth be distributed personally in local centres. This method of research has been used by Michler and Kodeih in their article Mussel and Seaweed Cultivation in Offshore Wind Farms An Opinion Survey (Michler Kodeih, 2008).Q1.To which age category do you run short?20 30 31 40 41 50 51 64 65+Q2GenderMale FemaleQ3. Marital StatusSingle matrimonial Widow/WidowerQ4.How many Children do you have?0 1 2 3 5 6+Q5.Do you live in an urban or rural area?Urban RuralQ6.How long have you lived here?Q7.Is your household accommodation Owner in use(p) with a mortgage? Owner occupied without a mortgage? Being purchased from the Local Authority? Being Rented from the Local Authority? Being rented from a private landlord?Q8.What is your occupation?Q9.If your occupation relates to agriculture, Arable kitchen-gardening what kind of agriculture are you engag ed in? Livestock OtherQ10.Do you work out wind farms will affect agriculture?Yes No If yes, please explain.Q11. Would you support the constructionYes of a wind farm in your area? NoQ12.Do you think a wind farm would affectYes the house prices in your area? NoQ13.Do you think a wind farm wouldYes benefit your local economy? NoQ14.Do you think that wind farm will Yes direct to Irelands energy independence? NoQ15.What affect do you think a wind farm would have on the local landscape?Q16.What problems do you think a wind farm in your area might cause?Q.17Would you be willing to take part in a follow upinterview to further express your views on wind farming? Yes No If Yes, please complete the following Name Address Phone NumberQualitative research methods are necessary when limited research has focused on a concept or phenomenon and it needs to be understood (Hunt, 2010). I will focus on interviews with the residents of these three towns to collect quantitative data. I will use an open -ended interview to conduct this part of the project. This technique uses a type of structured questionnaire, which does not constrict the answers of interviewee to categories provided by the interviewer this repair reflects the interviewees own thinking (Kitchin Tate, 2000). I have included a question on the quantitative questionnaire enquiring whether or not participants would be willing to take part in an interview. I am hoping I will contact twenty five participants that will agree to this. If I do not receive the required amount of participants for interviewing from the questionnaire, I will utilise the practice of cold calling to obtain the remaining participants. I will use a sample size of twenty five people, thirteen male and twelve female. I will interview six people from Kilmilhil, ten people from Liscasey and nine people from Creegh, to access their opinions on the proposed wind farm. This method of data collection was used by sustainable Energy Ireland in their artic le on Attitudes towards the developments of wind farms in Ireland (ESI, 2003).Interview scheduleI have read and understood this consent form completely and am willing to take part in this interview.I understand the purpose of this interview.I am aware that I can withdraw from this interview at any time.I understand that all my answers will be considered in the strictest confidence.SignedDateI am interested in the opinions of the citizens of West Clare on the construction of a wind farm on the west slope on Mount Callan. I would like to ask you a series of questions related to this topic.Q1. To what extent would you support or oppose the construction of a wind farm in your area?Q2. Are you in favour of the further developments of wind farms in Ireland?Q3. What benefits do you think a wind farm would bring to your area?Q4. What problems do you think a wind farm might cause in your area?Q5.What affects do you think a wind farm would have on the local landscape?Q6. Do you think the cons truction of a wind farm in your area would contribute to Irelands energy independence?Q7. Are you concerned about climate change?Q8. Would you be willing to pay more for your electricity if it comes from a not bad(p) renewable source?The benefits of generating primary data are that it is known precisely how the data was produced, and if any problems arose in the process. This is the system mostly used for data collection however is some cases the generation of primary data is not possible then secondary data may be used. Secondary data may also be used to help supplement the primary data you have already collected (Kitchin Tate, 2000). As numerous methods of data collection are required to conduct this study, use of secondary document analysis will also be employed. The data in these documents have been collected and analysed by soulfulness else, and usually for a different purpose. However these secondary sources are useful and can aid in strengthening the understanding of a cho sen topic.The sources I intend to use are as followsBusch, M., Gee, K., Burkhard, B., Lange, M., Stelljes, N. (2011). Conceptualizing the link between marine ecosystem services and human well-being the case of offshore wind farming. International ledger of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services Management 73, pp. 109-203.Comhar. (Nov 11). Community Renewable Energy in Ireland Status, barriers and potential options. Dublin Comar Publications.CSO. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 18, 2014, from Central Statistics Office http//census.cso,oe/sapmap/ESI. (2003). Retrieved 04 2014, 19, from Sustainable Energy Ireland http//www.seai.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications_/Wind_Power/Attitudes_towards_the_development_of_wind_farms_in_ireland.pdfHunt, T. (2010). Big wind in small town Ontario. Toronto Department of Geography, Collaborative Program in Environmental Studies, University of Toronto.Kitchin, R., Tate, N. J. (2000). Conducting research into human geography Theory, methodology and prati ce. Essex Pearson Education Limited.Michler, C. T., Kodeih, S. (2008). Mussel and seaweed cultivation in offshore wind farms An opinion survey. Coastal management, 36(4), pp. 392-411.Smith, E. R., Klick, H. (2007). Explaining NIMBY Opposition to Wind Power. Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Barbara.DeLacy, P. Barton, (2001) Wind farms a valuation primer, Appraisal journal, 79(1), pp. 28-43.Wilson, Keith (2011), Winds of change, Geographical, 83(5) p. 74.BibliographyWorks CitedComhar. (Nov 11). Community Renewable Energy in Ireland Status, barriers and potential options. Dublin Comar Publications.CSO. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 18, 2014, from Central Statistics Office http//census.cso,oe/sapmap/ESI. (2003). Retrieved 04 2014, 19, from Sustainable Energy Ireland http//www.seai.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications_/Wind_Power/Attitudes_towards_the_development_of_wind_farms_in_ireland.pdfHunt, T. (2010). Big wind in small town Ontario. Toronto Department of Geography, Collabo rative Program in Environmental Studies University of Toronto, pp. 24-27Kitchin, R., Tate, N. J. (2000). Conducting research into human geography Theory, methodology and pratice. Essex Pearson Education Limited, pp. 28-44Michler, C. T., Kodeih, S. (2008). Mussel and seaweed cultivation in offshore wind farms An opinion survey. COASTAL MANAGEMENT 36 4, pp. 392-411.SEI. (2013). Retrieved 04 19, 2014, from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland http//census.cso.ie/sasapmap

Googles Competitive Strategy: Analysis

Googles Competitive Strategy Analysisa) live Leadership Strategy-Any boldness achieves competitive advantages by able to produce inviolables or work at a low terms. It lowers the operating costs in order to achieve this outline. Cost advantage is the main objective of this dodging. Costs atomic number 18 tried to be marginalised in every step of the overlapion of goods or services. But low cost of growthion of goods or services does not mean that pricing would be low as there sack be a high promotional cost for the goods or services. Products fucking be priced competitively so as to achieve bigger margin than the competitors.b) Differentiation Strategy-Organization adopting this strategy attains competitive advantage finished satisfying node needs. This go forths in competitive pricing of the differentiated product or services and higher margins for the organization.The organization adapting to the differentiated strategy lead draw more cost than before for creating the competitive advantage of the product or service. This cost can be compensated by increase in sales of that particular product or services.c) Focus Differentiation/ Cost Leadership Strategy- Focus strategy is foc using differential or cost leadership strategy on a particular segment of the foodstuff.The source of Googles competitive advantage comes from the infrastructure of database Google has created over the years, relevancy of hunt club results, cost of s abate to death the reckon travel of the search, product offering from AD words to social net running(a) site to mobile application platform.Distinctive competency of an organization can be defined as how the company differentiate its product and services from the competitors, how to segment the securities industry, price their products and what is the range of the products available with the company.Google scores over its competitors over relevance of search results, cost of executing the search and the speed of the search. This is the differentiation advantage Google is having over their competitors. Googles competitive advantage comes from the infrastructure they bear built over the years. Continuous innovations, ease of use, relevancy in results are some Googles distinctive competencies. Googles ability to connect with the internet users, advertisers, website owners differentiates it from the competitors. Google has technological advantage over its competitors as they use high performance system which can take workload more than the public systems. Because of this capability they have a cost advantage over their competitors.2) What value does Google create for customers and advertisers?Googles customers are advertisers ranging from a SME to walloping scale enterprises to the end users like the common man. The sites are ranked according to the key words and the key words have got some price tags. The advertisers put their advertisements of products and services in Google and they pay to t he company when someone clicks the advertisements. Googles Ad word is the latest addition to this foray. Google also pay the other companies to display Googles advertisements. Google is continuously reinventing itself to be miles ahead of other companies. So with the addition of millions of internet users every year worldwide internet has became the latest buzzword. Whichever organization wants to be ahead of the competition they have to be present in the cyber space and who else than the search engine giant Google to show the way. The relevance of search results cost of executing the search and the speed of the search and continuous innovations makes Google the ultimate destination for advertisers as fountainhead as the end users. Let us take an example of Google Ad words. The benefits advertisers can get areThe customer can easily set up the Google Ad word within 30 minutes. Advertisements will be displayed at the right hand locating of the website. guest does not need a website. They can be an affiliate marketer to promote their products. node can market any type of product using Ad words.Customer can sell their own products like eBooks, music etc.Customer can test market their product before the original launch.They can specify the budget they want to spend on each day.Advertisements can be country specific, city or town specific.Customer can split test their Advertisements to see which is working and then can put their best Advertisements.Google cannot afford to lose the customers attention and trust. Some years past average search time was 3 seconds and they have bought it down to .2 seconds and now they are working towards reducing the time further. Also the relevancy of search result has to be maintained to retain the customers if it means losing in taxation for the company. So we can have an idea about the value Google wants to create for the advertisers and the customers. These are the impalpable values Google is creating towards their customers. 3) Apply the four building blocks of competitive advantage to Google. Analyse each factor by providing detailed examples from the case.Ans- For any organization efficiency, quality, innovation and customer responsiveness are the four building blocks of competitive advantages for their products and services.a) Efficiency- In order to achieve efficiency a company needs to have economics of scale, learning, experience, good marketing, Research and development, optimum use of Human resources and infrastructure. (Jones, 2007)From a mere 10000 search in a day to 75% of search make using it has came a long way. The revolution in hardware technology coupled with innovation it has considerably reduced its unit cost. Googles optimal use of Human resources can be seen as only 650 employees are there in Google worldwide. They claim that their employees are 50 to 100 percent more productive than their competitors.b) Quality-Quality of goods or services can differentiate one organization from the other. Maintaining quality will lower the defects and operating cost increasing the profitability of any organization. (Jones, 2007) Google has maintained the relevancy of search result to retain the customers if it means losing revenue for the company.c) Innovation-Google believes in continuously reinventing itself by innovative products. At the start Google found a way to generate revenue from the corporate by keywords bidding and advertisements. Some years ago average search time was 3 seconds and they have bought it down to .2 seconds and now they are working towards reducing the time further. So Google is continuously trying to innovate and upgrade its technology as vigorous as strategy to be ahead of the competition.d) Customer Responsiveness-Customer responsiveness can be defined as giving products or services to customer at their price what, when, where they want. Google has worked in the same way. It has given its advertisers and end users the ease of search, speed, relia bility and deliverability at a cheaper price. As their business is customer centric they do not hesitate to test market a product or services before the actual launch and seeks feedback from the user to improve it. The RD division of Google invites its users to their lab and includes them in the development process of the freshly products as well as enhancement of the existing one so by seeking their feedback.4) What business-level strategy is Google pursuing? (Identify the strategy and justify your answer)Ans -According to the Google CEO they never made any strategy but what they have made is what the customer wants. In my opinion they are pursuing cost leadership strategy as well as differentiation strategy. Google has technological advantage over its competitors as they use high performance system which can take workload more than the general systems. Because of this capability they have a cost advantage over their competitors. Google scores over other competitors on the techno logy advancement.It scores over its competitors over relevance of search results, cost of executing the search and the speed of the search. The value it has already created in the mind of consumer if the product or service is differentiated customer will not be price sensitive.5) What corporate-level strategy and international strategy has Google implemented? (Identify the relevant strategies and justify your answer).Ans-Corporate level strategy decides which business and which market the organization should look to enter. An organization needs corporate-level strategy to a) penetrate the existing market, b) Wants to enter new market with existing product, c) develops new product for existing market, d)develops new product for the new market. The business options are wether to work in the same business or diversify, wether to cater the home or national market or to go international. Google saying China as a fast growing competitive market. They entered in to an agreement in 2006 a nd Google is known as google.cn. This was a market development strategy followed by Google. From the year 1999 Google has presence in China but due to censorship issues Google was losing its market to Chinese origin search engine Baidu. From the year 2002 to 2007 Baidus market share went up from 3% to 58%.This promoted the search engine giant to enter in to an agreement with China and to operate its office from China imperishable the laws of censorships. In 2006 there were over 105 millions of online users only in china and that was only 8% of the Chinese populations. So Google sensed the opportunity in that market and entered in to an agreement with them.In the year 2003 Google took over Pyra Labs, a blog company to strengthen the speed and relevance of articles searching in its search engine. In the years Google has amazed YouTube (Video Streaming Company), JotSpot, Gap minders Trendalyzer, Adscape Media, Peak Stream Technologies. Google has enter new market with the existing pro duct, new market with new product as well as tried to penetrate the existing market with new product. It has also diversified form their main business of internet advertisement and has gone to acquire a radio advertising company dMarc.

Effectiveness Of Biologigal Wastewater Treatment Environmental Sciences Essay

Effectiveness Of Biologigal effluent Treatment Environmental Sciences EssayWaste urine discourse is a serious environmental concern due to the hazards of discharging poorly treat outgoing to the environment. Poor sewer peeing intercession poses a pollution terror to receiving water bodies, groundwater pollution, soil contamination and sequeling loss of biodiversity (Mantila, 2002).Dandora Estate Sewerage Treatment Works treats on average 62,000m3 per day annu in ally of effluent from capital of Kenya metropolis and its environs through biological treatment and will form the ponder bea. The population targeted in this study is sewer water received and treated at DESTW.The office of this study is to find out the effectiveness of biological wastewater treatment and the pollution potential of DESTW activities to the environment.An experimental research design will be employ to determine the wastewater characteristics and contaminant remotion while a descriptive design wi ll be utilise to determine the environmental implications of wastewater treatment.The instruments utilise in the study be observation, science laboratory experiments, leopold matrix, ne twork analysis, and meet characteristic analysis.Data analysis will be done exploitation both illative and descriptive statistics. wastewater treatment has been defined as the process of removing contaminants from wastewater produced by both domestic and industrial sources (Tchobanglous, 1993). Its objective is to produce treated outflowing and sludge sui turn off for give up or re recitation back into the environment which is achieved through physical, chemical and biological processes.The issue of wastewater treatment and disposal pretended increasing importance in the early 1970s as a result of the general concern expressed in the United States and worldwide intimately the wider problem of pollution of the human environment, the contamination of the atmosphere, rivers, lakes, oceans, an d groundwater by domestic, municipal, agricultural, and industrial waste (Oswald, 1996)A great partake of wastewater treatment plants be scattered all over the world and until recently not much scientific attention was given to these plants. They were considered to solve local problems so particularized that one did not deprivation to think it worthwhile to discuss design and operation of them in international fora.However, the interest shown for the 1st International Specialized Conference on Design and unconscious process of effluent Treatment Plants (Trondheim, 1989), and the IAWQ Specialist Group on the same subject (formed in 1991), demonstrated that there is a need to discussion on international scale the strategies for planning and the technical development of such plants.The reason for this interest must be found in the abundance of cases around the world where teensy-weensy wastewater treatment plants have to be put in operation to continue environmental pollution and hazards.There is a global shift from the traditionalistic centralized wastewater treatment system to locally based wastewater solutions (Hallvard, 1993) following the UN Decade for Water and Sanitation recommendations. The need for good solutions for wastewater treatment plants is therefore crucial in many developing countries.Developed countries mainly single-valued function mechanical and chemical treatment processes which though requiring less land atomic number 18 very expensive to establish and maintain.Alabaster (1994) cites that many developing countries favour the use of biological treatment which uses wastewater stabilization ponds since climate favours its operation and it is a low-cost, low-maintenance, highly efficient and natural method of wastewater treatment.The Dandora Sewerage Treatment Works (DESTW) which treats wastewater from Nairobi urban center and its environs uses biological treatment. However, due to stricter discharge standards set by National Envi ronmental Management Authority (NEMA), DESTW is increasingly falling short of those standards.Parr and Horan (1994) highlight three principal reasons for wastewater treatment plants reverse a insufficiency of technical noesis, failure to consider all germane(predicate) local factors at pre-design stage and inappropriate discharge standards.Mara (1992) cites the following encompassing impacts to the environment due to poorly treated effluent pollution of receiving aquatic water automobile trunk, groundwater pollution from seepage of effluent, soil pollution from dumping sludge and health impacts from drinking contaminated water or food grown by the same water.1.2 Problem StatementThe problem under investigation in this study is the effectiveness of biological treatment in removing contaminants from wastewater and pollution potential of DESTW activities.Factors making the problem a critical issue to warrant research be the physical treatment unit at DESTW has not been operatio nal for the past four socio-economic classs all pond series apart from series 3 and 5 lack anaerobic ponds closure of series 8 due to water hyacinth infestation may overload series 7 lack of pretreatment facilities in many industries that discharge into the Nairobi city sewer network may reduce treatment effectiveness and the environmental implications of groundwater pollution by effluent seepage and soil pollution by dumping of toxic sludge.Purpose of the StudyBased on the problem stated the purpose of this study is to check out the effectiveness of biological treatment at removing contaminants from wastewater through empirical method of inquiry and pop the question sustainable methods of improving treatment effectiveness at DESTW.This study also aims at identifying the potential impacts to the environment resulting from DESTW activities and proposes methods of mitigating negative impacts based on findings.1.4 Objectives of the StudyThe objectives of this study are as followsTo analyze the composition of wastewater received at DESTWTo analyze the effectiveness of contaminants mass removal at DESTWTo determine the pollution potential in relation to activities of DESTWTo identify alternative uses of treated effluent1.5 HypothesisThere is a positive relationship between the functioning of biological treatment and the tincture of effluent at DESTW.1.6 Signifi ratce and confession of the StudyThis study addresses gaps in knowledge that exist in biological treatment effectiveness in tr have wastewater from Nairobi, sewage effluent has long been cited as the cause of Nairobi River pollution, this study will quantify the extent to which effluent from DESTW pollutes the river.By addressing the above gaps in knowledge, the study will add to the body of knowledge in the field of wastewater treatment in Kenya.This study is important since the results will influence future environmental policies on wastewater oversight, recommendations will propose sustainable meth ods suitable for Kenya of further treating the effluent to ensure compliance with discharge standards, and they will also propose methods on improving existing methods of treating wastewater e.g. by harvesting methane gas from anaerobic ponds to provide electrical energy for running the physical treatment works.The findings and recommendations will mitigate negative impacts to the environment as a result of DESTW activities.Beneficiaries from findings of this study are the community surrounding DESTW who will enjoy cleaner groundwater resources and decrease health risks from eating vegetables grown by effluent or eating fish caught from oxidation ponds.Downstream users of R. Nairobi will enjoy cleaner river water which will decrease prevalence of waterborne diseases.DESTW will receipts from this studys recommendations by increased environmental compliance and they will also cut down on operational costs through generating electricity from anaerobic ponds methane gas.Researchers wil l benefit from this studys findings which will form background information and methodology reference for future related studies.Policy makers will use the findings and recommendations of this study in formulating policies for wastewater management in Kenya.1.7 Limitations and AssumptionsLimitationsLength of the study was limited to 3 months from January to March 2008 where data was to be collected. To overcome this limitation, data for previous years was obtained from the DESTW database.Breakdown of some laboratory machines hindered analysis of samples e.g. water distiller breakdown prevented analysis on some days due to lack of distilled water.Lack of a permanent vehicle at DESTW prevented last-place effluent sampling on some days.AssumptionsIt is assumed that the reagents were not contaminated.It is assumed that the measuring equipments were calibrated properly.It is assumed that sampling and storage cans were kept clean to prevent sample contamination.1.8 Study AreaThis study wi ll be carried out at the Dandora Estate Sewerage Treatment Works (DESTW) which treats wastewater from Nairobi city and its environs using biological treatment process. The study area was elect since it forms a representative sample of Nairobi city wastewaters.CommissioningThe prototypal flesh was completed in 1977 and commissioned on 1978. The second phase was completed in 1990 and commissioned on 1992.LocationDESTW is located at Ruai in Embakasi incision approximately 30km from the city center and about 3km off Kangundo road. Access to the plant is on a permanent earth road. The site is approximately 1000ha and the oxidation ponds are on 200ha.ClimateThe climate is a typical Nairobi climate with temperature ranging between 15-30 degrees centigrade. The average rainfall is approximately 760mm with the most of the rains falling in two seasons, March to May (long rains) and October to December (short rains).Geology, soils and topographyThe geology of the area mainly comprise of Nai robi volcanics covered by black cotton clay soils. The area is generally right away with Nairobi River forming the north Eastern boundary of the land.Flora and faunaThe area is generally arid with scanty vegetation cover, mainly sisal and shrubs. The ponds have attracted crocodiles and hippos from the near Nairobi River since they provide habitat and cheap source of food to for fauna and flora. Large colonies of different species of birds such as birds of prey (e.g., buzzard, golden eagle, and barn-owl), garden and forest birds (e.g., pigeon, crow, and sparrow) water-birds and sea-birds (e.g., heron, swans, kingfisher, and curlew), and game birds such as quail hovered around the stabilization ponds during the day. Mudfish and tilapia fish have also been introduced in the development ponds to assist in pure tone monitoring.Number of ponds and arrangementThere are a total of 38 waste stabilization ponds at DESTW which occur in 8 series. Facultative and maturation (aerobic) ponds run in parallel. Only series 3 and 5 have anaerobic ponds.Types of pondsThere are three types of ponds at DESTW and these areAnaerobic ponds- they are 4.0m deep and measure 100m by 100m. They are deigned for constitutional upshot removal e.g. helminth eggs.Facultative ponds they are 2.5 m deep and measure 700m by 300m. They are designed for BOD5 removal.Maturation ponds- they are 1.5m deep and measure m by m. They are designed for northward and phosphorus removal.Pretreatment and flow measurement facilitiesDESTW has a courtly inlet works where large suspended strongs are screened by coarse bar screens before being automatically raked by cup screens. Grit is withdraw by use of constant velocity grit traps.A venturi flume is provided for flow measurement.CHAPTETR TWO LITERATURE REVIEW2.1 Nature of Wastewater2.1.1 Origin and amount of moneyWastewater originates mainly from domestic, industrial, groundwater, and meteorological sources and these forms of wastewater are comm just n ow referred to as domestic sewage, industrial waste, infiltration, and storm-water drainage, respectively(Mara, 1997).Domestic sewage results from peoples day-to-day activities, such as bathing, body elimination, food preparation, and recreation, averaging about 90 liters per person daily in Kenya (Asano, 1998). The quantity and character of industrial wastewater is highly varied, depending on the type of industry, the management of its water usage, and the degree of treatment the wastewater receives before it is dispatch.A typical metropolitan area discharges a volume of wastewater equal to about 60 to 80 percent of its total daily water requirements, the rest being utilize for washing cars and watering lawns, and for manufacturing processes such as food canning and bottling (WHO, 1992).2.1.2 CompositionThe composition of wastewater is canvass using several physical, chemical, and biological measurements. The most common analyses include the measurements of solids, biochemical group O demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand ( put one over), and pH (Pena, 2002). The solid wastes include dissolved and suspended solids. Dissolved solids are the materials that will pass through a filter paper, and suspended solids are those that do not.The concentration of organic bet is mensurable by the BOD5 and COD analyses. The BOD5 is the amount of oxygen used over a five-day period by microorganisms as they decompose the organic matter in sewage at a temperature of 20 C. Similarly, the COD is the amount of oxygen required to oxidize the organic matter by use of bichromate in an acid solution and to convert it to carbon dioxide and water. The value of COD is always higher than that of BOD 5 because many organic substances can be oxidized chemically exactly cannot oxidize biologically (Curtis, 1992) .Commonly, BOD5 is used to test the strength of untreated and treated municipal and biodegradable industrial wastewaters. COD is used to test the strength of wastewater that i s either not biodegradable or contains compounds that inhibit activities of microorganisms.The pH analysis is a measure of the acidity of a wastewater sample.2.2 Biological Wastewater Treatment2.2.1 Waste Stabilization Ponds Technology OverviewWaste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are usually the most appropriate method of domestic and municipal wastewater treatment in developing countries, where the climate is most favourable for their operation WSPs are low-cost (usually least-cost), low-maintenance, highly efficient, entirely natural and highly sustainable (Alabaster, 1994). The only energy they use is direct solar energy, so they do not need any electromechanical equipment, saving expenditure on electricity and more skilled operation. They do require much more land than conventional electromechanical treatment processes such as activated sludge but land is an asset which increases in value with time, whereas money spent on electricity for the operation of electromechanical systems is gone forever).WSP systems comprise one or more series of different types of ponds. Usually the first pond in the series is an anaerobic pond, and the second is a facultative pond. These may need to be followed by maturation ponds, but this depends on the required final effluent quality which in turn depends on what is to be done with the effluent used for curb or unrestricted irrigation used for fish or aquatic vegetable culture or discharged into surface water or groundwater (Horan, 1994).Prior to treatment in the WSPs, the wastewater is first subjected to preliminary treatment screening and grit removal to remove large and heavy solids.Basically, primary treatment is carried out in anaerobic ponds, secondary treatment in facultative ponds, and tertiary treatment in maturation ponds. Anaerobic and facultative ponds are for the removal of organic matter (normally expressed as biochemical oxygen demand or BOD), Vibrio cholerae and helminth eggs and maturation ponds for the remo val of faecal viruses (especially rotavirus, astrovirus and norovirus), faecal bacteria (for example, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp. and unhealthful strains of Escherichia coli), and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). Due to their high removal of excreted pathogens, WSPs produce effluents that are very suitable for reuse in agriculture and aquaculture.2.2.2 Related Research on Biological Wastewater TreatmentMandi (1993) in his comparative study of Wastewater treatment by stabilization ponds with and without macrophytes under arid climate found that ponds using water hyacinth proved most efficient than those using microphytic plants ( algae). Howver, the process based on water hyacinth for wastewater purification is faced with two major problems first the water loss by evapotranspiration reaches 60% during summer time and secondly the development of mosquito during summer time.He however does not address the huge quantities of biomass produced from water hyacin th treatment systems and the resulting increase in sludge deposition rate.Ghrabi (1989) in his experimental study Treatment of wastewater by stabilization ponds application to Tunisian conditions concluded that sediment accumulation occurs mainly in the first pond the deposition rate is high (5 cm/year). In the maturation ponds, it ranges from 1.3 cm/year to 1.6 cm/year. The first pond can be desludged yearly or once each two years.He however in his study doesnt watch the environmental impacts of sludge to the soil and he also doesnt suggest methods of decreasing the amounts reaching the wastewater stabilization ponds.Jensen (1992) in his study on the Potential use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in Northern environments concluded that wetlands achieve 98% phosphorus removal, 88% BOD removal and 55% nitrogen removal respectively. COD removal was only 64% due to discharge of organic matter that is slowly biodegradable e.g. humic acids.This study however didnt estima te the productive life history of the constructed wetlands.2.3 Problems in Wastewater Treatment and Disposal2.3.1 Wastewater Treatment Plant ProblemsMany wastewater treatment plants (WwTP) of all kinds in developing countries do not function properly. Parr and Horan (1994) found that there are three principal reasons for WwTP failure a lack of technical knowledge failure to consider all relevant local factors at the pre-design stage and inappropriate discharge standards. As a result, wrong decisions are often made and inappropriate unsustainable treatment processes are selected and implemented. This is wherefore exacerbated by the absence of any real incentive to operate the WwTP correctly once it has been commissioned. It is therefore essential for the long-term sustainability of WwTP that simple efficient technologies such as WSPs are always considered at the pre-design (or feasibility) stage. An honest comparison of the cost-effectiveness of wastewater treatment technologies wi ll almost always favour the selection of WSPs in warm-climate countries.2.3.2 Environmental Problems of Wastewater Treatment and DisposalIf wastewater is discharged before it is properly treated, it can adversely affect the environment, public health and destinations economic well-being. The cost of these negative impacts can be expressed in monetary, health and ecological terms (Mara, 1997).Mantila (2002) identifies a number of consequences of poorly treated wastewaterHealth Impacts from pathogenic bacteria, viruses and toxic algae cause diarrhoea, shellfish poisoning and other diseases bathing in polluted water causes gastroenteritis and upper respiratory diseases eating polluted shellfish results in hepatitis, liver damage and in some cases death.Impact on Marine Environment in the form of suspended solids may cause excessive turbidness and shading of sea grasses, produce sedimentation, damaging benthic (bottom layer) habitats and affect anaerobic conditions at the sea bottom hig h BOD levels may cause repelling oxygen depletion especially in shallow and enclosed aquatic systems such as estuaries that are ideal breeding grounds for various marine species resulting in fish deaths and anaerobic conditions which release bad odors(hydrogen sulfide) adverse nutrient levels cause algal blooms, resulting in the death of coral and sea grasses and eutrophication leading to severe oxygen depletion which kills living resources many toxic materials and suspected carcinogens and mutagens can concentrate in fish tissue, putting humans at risk when they eat them metals in specific forms can be toxic to humans and various marine organisms especially shellfish which is vulnerable, in areas with highly contaminated sediment layers fats, oil and grease that swash on the water surface interfere with natural aeration, are possibly toxic to aquatic life, destroy coastal vegetation and reduce recreational use of waters and beaches.Impact on Groundwater and Water Resources in the form of improper disposal of wastewater can directly impact the quality of an areas groundwater and water resources and since their movements are dynamic, contaminants can spread far beyond the immediate pollution area.2.4 Wastewater Management OptionsOswald (1995) states that the following issues should be addressed before designing an effective wastewater management plan assess current wastewater management practice before water is discharged to the municipal treatment facility, identification of sources of wastewater, determine whether discharged wastewater quality meets effluent standards, identify whether industries carry out pre-tretment of their wastewater and finally assessing complaints from users of reclaimed wastewater effluent. Once the situation has been assessed, a range of approaches and techniques to deal with wastewater can be considered.Bartone (1996) argues that to ensure effective treatment o wastewater, the volume has to be reduced to prevent overloading of was tewater treatment plants and this can only be achieved at the source through installation of water efficiency equipment e.g. ultra-low flush toilets, spray nozzles, low-flow showerheads, water spigots, all which reduce overall water consumption. sight of domestic wastewater and transportation to a distant treatment plant is a difficult and highly expensive task, if the catchment area to be served is low in population density (Tchobanoglous, 1993). Onsite treatment of sewage is the alternative and has been applied al around the world for many centuries.However, purification achieved by traditional onsite treatment systems such as septic tanks (DIN, 1993) is rather poor especially with respect to nutrient removal and as a result impacts on the quality of groundwater are inevitable.The basic idea of the biofilter septic tank was introduced by Toshio Yahata (1981) and further developed by Stubner and Sekoulov (1987). The biofilm reactor septic tank has been found to be more efficient ( Robert, 1996) and effluent can be reused for irrigating or flushing toilets.2.5 Conceptual FrameworkThis study is based on the conceptual framework below that aims at optimal use of resources in an environmentally sustainable manner.StageDescriptionThe main sources of generation are households, commercial and industrial sources.This is done through the sewer network in Nairobi and conveyed to DESTW. An annual average of 62000 m3 wastewater reaches DESTW dailyIt aims at screening solids and grit removal from wastewater stream.Coarse bar screens- remove large suspended solids sensitive bar screens remove smaller suspended solidsCup screens- remove finer suspended solidsGrit traps- remove grit and sand particles from wastewaterInvolves use of wastewater stabilization pondsAnaerobic ponds are designed for organic matter removalFacultative ponds- are designed for BOD removalMaturation ponds- designed for nitrogen and phosphorus removalTreated effluent disposed of in Nairobi RiverEfflue nt reused for agricultural irrigation and livestock watering.Fig 1 Conceptual framework for wastewater treatment and disposal in Nairobi.(Adapted from WHO,1992)CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY3.1 Research DesignThe design used in this research is experimental since analysis of wastewater quality is done in the laboratory.It is also descriptive since the state of the environment and biological treatment process are described.The approach used in this study is deductive since it begins with the perceptual experience and observation of an environmental problem, leads to hypothesis formulation, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, theory construction, and finally to explanation.3.2 Population and SamplePopulationThe population targeted in this study is the wastewater received and treated at DESTW which averages 62,000m3 per day annually.Sample typesGrab samples were unavoidable for parameters such as pH, ammonia, and faecal indicator bacteria. unravel-weighted composite samples were necessary for raw sewage parameters such as electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen,Frequency of samplingRaw sewage was sampled hourly because its composition varies considerably throughout the day.Flow was sampled hourly throughout the day.Final effluents were sampled once daily before noon.Pond series were sampled once every week.Nairobi River upstream and downstream was sampled once a week.Data Collection Instruments3.3.1 Field ObservationEnvironmental impacts will be identified using field observation which will be aided by the following instrumentsa) Leopold matrixIt is a grid-like table that is used to identify the interaction between project activities, which are displayed on one axis, and environmental characteristics, which are displayed along the other axis. Using the table, environment-activity interactions can be noted in the appropriate cells or intersecting points in the grid. Entries are made in the cells to highlight impact severity or other features related to the nature of the impact, e.g. numbers in this study are used to indicate scale in this study.This instrument was chosen for environmental impact identification because it links the action to the impact, shows impact magnitude and significance, and is a good way of displaying environmental impact results.b) Network analysisNetworks ornament the cause-effect relationship of project activities and environmental characteristics. They are, therefore, particularly useful in identifying and depicting secondary impacts (indirect, cumulative, etc). They are drawn by identifying first order impacts first then linking them to second order impacts and third order impacts by use of an arrow.This instrument was chosen for environmental impact identification since it links the actions to the impacts, is useful I simplify form for checking for second order impacts and can handle direct and indirect impacts.c) Impact characteristics analysisIt is normally in the form of a summary tabl e and this instrument was chosen for environmental impact identification because it shows impact nature, magnitude, extent/location, timing, duration, reversibility, likelihood (risk), and significance.3.3.2 Laboratory experimentsExperiments were performed to determine the composition of wastewater at DESTW and the mass removal of contaminants from the wastewater. The apparatus below will be used during the laboratory experimentsPlastic sampling cans were used to collect and store samples.A wooden pole with 1cm graduations was used to measure depth at the venturi flume.A refrigerator was used to store samples at below 4 degrees Celsius.Burettes, cone-shaped flasks, pipettes, beakers, and digestion tubes were used to hold samples and reagents when analyzing for various parameters in the laboratory.Ovens, digestion blocks, water baths, and fume chambers were used in creating conducive conditions for chemical reactions to take place in the laboratory.Pan balances, beam balances, UV sp ectrophotometers, atomic absorption spectrophotometers, water quality meters and flame photometers were used to measure values of various parameters in the samples.3.4 Data Collection Procedures3.4.1 Laboratory Analysis ProceduresParameters will be analyzed according to Alabasters 1989 Practical Guide to the Monitoring of Waste Stabilization Ponds standard operations manual that was adopted by the DESTW laboratory.a) FlowThis will be measured on the raw sewage and final effluents using the venturi flume which is a restriction in the channel carrying wastewater. The formula below was used to calculate flow.Q =23 2/3 g CV.CD . b. h3/2Where Q= flowrate m3/s CV = coefficient of velocityCD = coefficient of discharge b = width of throat (m)h = upstream depth (m)b) COD total and filteredThe micro-digestion sealed tube method will be used with potassium dichromate as digestion solution and ferrous ammonium sulphate as titration solution.Procedure1.5 ml of digestion solution is dispensed in to a digestion tube, 2.5 ml of sample is added using a pipette and assorted well, 3.5 ml of catalyst solution (silver sulphate in 2.5 liters of sulphuric acid ) is added, the tube is capped tightly using a PTFE sealing gasket, the tubes contents are then mixed by gentle swirling, the tubes are then placed in a digestion block at 1500 C for 120 minutes, contents of the tube are transferred quantitavely to 100ml conical flask and sufficient water added to a final volume around 25 ml , 1 drop of ferroin indicator is added and the solution mixed well, it is titrated with FAS (N/40) until the indistinct blue colour changes to red and the value of the titre T ml recorded, a blank titration is carried out following the same procedure but using distilled water instead and the value of blank titre B ml recorded.COD calculated as follows COD = (B-T) / S - 1000 mg/lc) BOD totalThe standard 5 days, 20 0C, BOD bottleful test will be used.ReagentsDilution water, ferric chloride solution, mangan ous sulphate solution, atomic number 11 azide solution, alkali- iodide solution, 90 % orthophosphoric acid, N/40 sodium thiosulphate, starch solution.ProcedureDilution water is prepared, sample added and incubated at 200C for 5 days to determine dissolved oxygen, remove stopper from the BOD bottle and 2ml each of manganous sulphate solution, sodium azide solution, alkali- iodide solution, immediately after the addition of alkali-iodide reagent a brown flocculent precipitate forms therefore the bottle is shaken to ensure that all the dissolved oxygen reacts with the reagents, when the floc settles add 2ml orthophosphoric acid and shaken until the bottle contents turn yellow, 205 ml of the bottle contents is titrated with N/40 sodium thiosulp

The black death Essay -- essays research papers

What was the Black Death, and what was its impact on European society?The Black Death was a bacterium which was carried by flea infested rats. This disaster spread across Europe quite rapidly.Much accusation for the cause of the plague was pressed onto the Jewish community.The most leafy vegetable plague was the bubonic plague, although the pneumatic plague also existed.This disaster caused economic, social, political and cultural havoc. Approximately 50% of the infested population died, which, was estimated between 19 to 38 million. During this fact 25 to 50 percent of the population throughout Europe decreased.The plague began around 1347 and did not end until around 1369.What major problems did European states face in the fourteenth century?There was economic mayhem during 1347-1351 caused by drop in population, which was caused by the immense amount of deaths caused by the Black Death.Peasants salaries were increasing where as aristocrats loss around 20 percent of their income . This caused social instability and lead riots.Peasants revolted against the nobles which affected commercial and industrial activities.The political structure changed causing instability. This was due to cozy conflicts on who should lead to bureaucracy. How and why did the authority and prestige of the papacy decline in the fourteenth century?The papacy began to lose control when King Philip IV chose to tax the French clergy, without the popes consent. The Struggle...

The Adoption of Migration and Development Theories Essay -- Adoption o

Introduction Initially, it should be noted that the world migration mainly refers to the exertion of population into another country or region from their original country to which they are not native so as to check there to sour and live. There are many factors which can contribute to the large world migration including economic and political reasons, family gathering, natural disasters etc. According to published statistics, it is said by International Organization for migration that the number of migrants from foreign countries around the globe has reached more than 200 million. It is Europe that owned the largest number of migrants since it has already arrived at 70 million. The routine are is North America which has more than 45 million migrants and the following that is Asia which holds almost a number of 25 million (Gurak and Fe, 1992)The world migrants have brought around abundant labor resource and stimulated the circulation of goods and services. Therefore, it is the pu rpose of this paper to conduct the trend of world migration based on migration and evolution possible action so as to provide some insights. The second section of the paper will focus on stating the life story of some migrants in terms of how they work and settle their life in foreign countries. The third part will provide useful recommendations for migration development.The adoption of migration and development theories It can be noted that in analyzing the migration and development there are two general perspectives to be adopted such as Macro theory and Micro theory. In terms of the Macro theory it is also referred to as the push and pull. With regards to push element it initially refers to the motive and stimulus to cause immigration to move from th... ... Zlotnik (eds.), International Migration Systems A Global Approach. Oxford Clarendon Press, pp. 150-176.Zlotnik, Hania. (1992). verifiable identification of international migration systems, in Mary Kritz, Lin Lean Lim, and Hania Zlotnik (eds.), International Migration Systems A Global Approach. Oxford Clarendon Press, pp. 19-40.Massey, Douglas S., Joaqun Arango, Hugo Graeme, Ali Kouaouci, Adela, Pellegrino, and J. Edward Taylor. (2005). Worlds in Motion Understanding International Migration at the give the sack of the Millennium. New York Oxford University PressEwing, Walter A (2006). Border Insecurity U.S. Border-Enforcement Policies and National Security, Immigration Policy Center, American Immigration Law FoundationFell, Peter and Hayes, Debra. (2007). What are they Doing hither? A Critical Guide to Asylum and Immigration, Birmimgham, Venture Press

Charlotte Brontes Childhood Influences to Become a Writer :: Charlotte Bronte Author Essays

Charlotte Brontes Childhood Influences to Become a WriterCharlotte was born to in 1816 in Yorkshire to Patrick Bronte and hiswife. She was one of six children, an aver periodd size family in thosedays. The family were moved to Haworth (a small village in the westYorkshire moors) in 1820. Sadly a year later Mrs Bronte died leavingthe six children in her sisters tutelage. Charlotte had to head with thedeath of a mother when she was very young and the death of her twoelder sisters a few eld later. She had to learn to care for herselfand to be much independent. This may have helped Charlotte to be ableto empathise with the feelings that arise when somebody dies. In lateryears she was indeed able to use these feeling in her novels. Having tobe independent may have helped her to be able to make up the characterJane Eyre as she was in a similar situation to as Charlotte, having tolearn to care for herself and having to cope with the death of aparent.In 1824 Charlotte was sent to boardi ng school with three of her foursisters. The appalling conditions at the school had a long term affecton the two elder sisters and this is where Maria and Louisa died.After the death of Maria and Louisa Charlottes father brought all hischildren home. Charlotte made this school the place for Lowoodinstitute in Jane Eyre. So although she had been through horribletimes she was able to use them to her advantage.After their mother and two eldest children had died, Charlotte wasleft with her sisters Emily and Anne and brother Branwell to the careof their father, and their strict, religious aunt, Elisabeth Branwell.The children created imaginary kingdoms, which were built aroundBranwells toy soldiers, and which inspired them to write storiesabout the fantasylands of Angria and Gondal. Charlotte had a very bigimagination at an early age and having a brother and sister thatshared this imagination helped her to expand on it. All of Mr Bronteschildren were encouraged to read widely.The Bronte children were avidreaders and they loved to make up stories and then share them witheach other.In later life Charlotte started a new school and after she had leftthe school she then returned to it a few years later as a teacher. Shewas able to practice her writing skills and learn how to teach them toothers. In 1841 Charlotte became a pupil at the Maison deducationpour les jeunes, in Brussels.

Essay --

Throughout the annals of humanity, there have been two predominant groups in a parliamentary law. The first-year group is made up of individuals who possess the power to define the proper characteristics of those who belong into the dominant group. The secondary groups of people are referred to as the others. The other is aught more than a mere social construct developed by the dominant party to either exclude or subordinate the groups of people who do not fit the normal characteristics or mores of the dominant group in their respective society. This process is dehumanizing, and these appellations create social barriers that inhibit the growth and evolution of society. Othering is a very insidious process that defies the human conscience. Furthermore, this process has perpetuated xenophobia, gender discrimination, genocide, and various other crimes against the dignity of humankind. Creating others does nothing to advance the human species. Instead this application of anti-Semite( prenominal) sets has separated humans from one another. These barriers and constructs have been used to justify slavery, genocide, gender discrimination, apartheid, and various other atrocities. The first step in creating an other is stripping a person of their humanity. This process is gradual, and it is not noticeable. It only takes one pejorative term to initiate this process. Once a negative thought about an individual or a group of people coalesces then the other is created. By separating humans into different constructs and groups, the apathy and prejudice of disenfranchised group grows over time. Once the label and construct is firmly established the humanity of the stigmatized group is expunged. This paves the way for discrimination, and hate to suffuse ... ... proved to be a severe detriment to human society in terms of not only gender equality, but racial and spectral equality as well. Racial and religious constructs are artificial, Race and religious belief was determ ined by the dominant society. The dominant group chose the racial characteristics that were favorable, and the people who did not possess these characteristics were marginalized. The dominant group also embraced a certain religious creed that reinforced their morals and standards. The individuals who did possess these characteristics were now considered an other. Othering allowed for the justification for the Holocaust, the Bosnian genocide, imperialism, slavery, and other heinous practices. The groups of people that possessed a different scrape up color, religion, culture, morals, and other traits were subjected to the greatest evils, because they were dehumanized.