Comparison of Domestic Water Consumption Pattern in Attaragoda (Rural) and Dangedara East (Urban) GN Divisions in Galle, Sri Lanka

W.A.A. Prabhashvi, B.D.I.M. Batugedara, S.A.M.A.I.K. Senanayakee

Published in International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Publications

Domestic water consumption is one of the most critical sectors of water usage and accounts for the third-highest water portion of global water consumption. This domestic water usage can be categorized in four ways: consumptive use, hygienic use, amenity use, and productive use. Due to rapid urbanization, Sri Lanka has a higher water consumption in the domestic sector. Galle is the fourth largest municipality in Sri Lanka in terms of population size. The current study identified water consumption patterns of selected urban and rural Grama Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) in Galle, Sri Lanka. Attaragoda GND (rural area) and Dangedara East GND (urban area) were selected as the study population. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey. A stratified random sampling technique was applied to distribute questionnaires among 177 and 213 Attaragoda and Dangedara East residents, respectively, during August-November (2021). It was identified that urban residents use only pipe-born water for domestic uses while rural households utilize not only pipe-born water but also groundwater. The rural area had a higher mean total water consumption (72 Liters/Capita/Day) than the urban area (62.4 Liters/Capita/Day). Mean total water consumption differed significantly between rural and urban areas (p<0.05). The activity that utilized the most water was washing clothes, followed by bathing and kitchen washing in both regions. There were significant differences in total water consumption for kitchen washing purposes, bathing and sanitary purposes, gardening purposes, animal husbandry purposes, clothes washing, and other washing purposes between rural and urban areas (p<0.05). Water consumption for kitchen washing and bathing was slightly greater in urban areas than in rural areas. It can be attributed to modern lifestyles, such as having more convenient cooking wares, flushing toilets, and shower facilities among urban residents. Washing clothes, gardening, animal husbandry, and other washing activities increased water consumption in rural areas. Households in urban areas that depend entirely on pipe-born water had a higher monthly domestic water consumption cost (Rs.612.70) than rural areas where residents utilize groundwater and pipe water. Most urban residents have switched to pipe-born water sources due to the contamination of water sources with urbanization and garbage accumulation. Most rural residents believe tap water is undrinkable due to its flavor. According to the results, households in an urban area use only pipe water for their domestic purposes, and rural households use pipe born water as well as groundwater for their domestic purposes. Laundry is the most significant water-intensive activity in both study regions

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Holothuria atra: An Underutilized Marine Resource for Nutritional and Collagen Benefits

Nishani Jayanika Jayathilake, Nipuna Deelaka Wimalagunarathna, Isuru Wijesekara , Varuni Karunika Gunathilake

Published in Asian Journal of Biotechnology and Bioresource Technology

The results showed that body wall tissues of H.atra contained high moisture level (83.2%), proteins (10.2%) and low levels of fat (2.0%) and carbohydrates (2.1%). Further, flesh contains, 0.4% saturated fatty acids, 0.4% unsaturated fatty acids, considerable amount of Calcium, Magnesium and Sodium. Collagen yield from the body wall was recorded as 0.95% and fibrils observed as irregular and dense with a loose and porous structure. Attenuate Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Ultra Violet Vis spectroscopy indicated the collagen was Type I.

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Chemical composition and biological efficacy of Acorus calamus (L.) rhizome essential oil on Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) as stored-grain protectants

S.S. Wijerathna, A.G.W.U. Perera, S.D.M. Chinthaka

Published in Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology

Highlights of the research

  • Acorus calamus essential oil was toxic to S. oryzae, R. dominica, O. surinamensis.
  • α-Asarone enriched oil produced significant repellency on test insects in an hour.
  • Botanical was a potent feeding deterrent against S. oryzae, and R. dominica in 72 h.
  • The essential oil induced phagostimulant activity against O. surinamensis adults.
  • A. calamus oil caused severe ultrastructural impacts on insects’ cuticular surfaces.

Biotechnological performance of a cyanobacteria based microbial fuel cell

Kakunawela Pathirana Amaya Imanthi, Fathima Sumaiya Idroos and Marakkala Manage Pathmalal

published in Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol.

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is an environmentally friendly and sustainable technology where microbial degradation on organic substrates generates electricity, with potential application to wastewater treatment. This study mainly focused on investigating the effects of wastewater source on efficient electricity generation using a bio-cathode. Carbon cloth (2 × 4 cm2) were used as anode and cathode electrodes with 0.33Ω external resistor. Anode medium was leachate (setup 01) and rice wash water (setup 02) and cathode medium was Chroococcus sp. culture. Control setup was maintained by adding distilled water in cathode. Landfill leachate and rice wash water were used as the wastewater sources, all other conditions were the same in both setups. Highest electricity generation and wastewater treatment were recorded in setup 02 with rice wash water. The maximum voltage was 1,111 mV with current 3,366.67 mA and 467.55 mW m-2 power density. The wastewater treatment efficiencies reported as reductions in COD, Nitrate, Nitrite and Orthophosphate were 61.94%, 61.01%, 55.14%, and 26.01% in setup 02. These study outcomes disclose that dual chamber MFC with rice wash water as the wastewater source has potential for simultaneous power generation and wastewater treatment.