From drain to the garden: Household material utilization in hair dye wastewater filtration scheme

Abstract

Wastewater from hair dyeing is a widespread problem, consistently causing detrimental effects on ecosystems and biodiversity. Effective solutions for wastewater treatment are needed to address environmental concerns. Herein, a filtration scheme is proposed to mitigate the impact of hair dyeing wastewater in collaboration with the rain garden concept. Research in this study focuses on two objectives: evaluating the filtration efficiency of seven commonly available household materials and assessing the performance of a composite filtration system comprising selected materials. The seven materials were subjected to various tests to evaluate their dye absorption efficiency, infiltration rate, water-holding capacity, dynamic lifespan, and dye retention capability. The materials were then ranked in accordance with the test results for developing optimized filtration systems. The optimization process reveals that the composite system consisting of sand, pet bedding, and landscape fabric/Zep exhibits promising filtration performance and can be effectively integrated with rain gardens. This research presents an innovative approach to enhance a closer connection between rain gardens and household applications. It contributes valuable insights into the development of efficient treatment methods for the reuse of hair dyeing wastewater and underscores the potential of rain gardens as a sustainable and practical solution.