Chelangat Linda2026-08-252026-08-252026-08-25Chelangat Lindahttps://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/9144Water hardness caused by the presence of calcium and magnesium ions in water is a wide spread water quality problem affecting domestic use in busolwe town, Butaleja district. In Busolwe town council, Butaleja district, residents rely on boreholes and taps that supply water which is hard leading to excessive soap consumption, unpleasant taste, scale formation and potential long term health risks. This study aimed to soften hard water from selected water sample in Butaleja district using activated carbon derived from banana peels as low cost, environmentally friendly adsorbent. The specific objectives were to determine the initial concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in the water sample, investigate the effect of adsorbent dosage and the contact time on ion removal and evaluate the effectiveness of banana peel activated carbon for water softening. Banana peels were collected, washed and dried at 1100C for 24 hours, ground in to powder, activated using 1.5M sulphuric acid at 700C for 3 hours, neutralized with0.1M NaOH and dried again. Magnesium concentration was determined using UV-VIS spectrophotometer with Eriochrome Black at 520nm, while total hardness was measured before and after treatment using EDTA titration. Results showed a reduction in EDTA volume used after treatment (from an average of 8.77 mL before treatment to 4.60 mL after treatment) indicating significant removal of hardness ions. This study concludes that banana peel activated carbon is an effective, low-cost adsorbent for removing Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions from hardwater. This approach offers a sustainable solution for water softening in rural communities while simultaneously addressing agricultural waste disposal.en-USBook