Characterization of some Selected Physicochemical Parameters of Effluent from Anmol Product Ethiopia Paper Factory Discharged in to Upper Awash River at Ginchi, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Pulp and paper industry wastewaters entering water body represent heavy source of environmental pollution. The objectives of this study were characterization of wastewater from Anmol Product Ethiopia Paper factory and the receiving river water quality. Samples from untreated and treated effluents of the factory, and upper Awash River water were examined using standard procedure over two months of dry season. The result shows the brown untreated wastewater consists of BOD5 (470-2499.3 mg/L),COD(2969-5848.6 mg/L), TP(0.37-0.42 mg/L),TN(7.79 20 mg/L),Turbidity(118.3-499.3 NTU),TS(1512-2592.67 mg/L),TDS(10322333.3 mg/L),SS(298-501.3 mg/L),EC(1576-3198.7 µS/cm), pH 3.23–10.66,Na(140-900 mg/L),K(2.9-12.1 mg/L),TH (49.5-3335 mg/L), Ca(11.09-1150 mg/L), Mg (5.23-110.4 mg/L), Cl(186.22-3818.7 mg/L),SO4-2(26.7-282.3mg/L),the treated effluent consists of BOD5(4051314.6mg/L),COD(2304-3729.6mg/L),TP(0.35-1.69mg/L),TN(12.41-12.80g/l),Turbidity(50.88418.65NTU),TS(1230-2854 mg/L),TDS(1118-2650mg/L),SS(112-532mg/L),EC(1705-4020 µS/cm), pH 3.4–10.3, Na(130-800mg/L),K(2.1-11.6mg/L),TH (47.52-3036 mg/L), Ca(8.71-1104 mg/L), Mg (6.18-66.24 mg/L), Cl-(150.41-815.44 mg/L),SO42- (219.25-424.22mg/L). The mean variations of all parameters are not significantly varied (p>0.05) between untreated and treated effluents at 0.05 significant level. The values of most parameters were found higher than the EEPA and WHO prescribed industrial effluent discharge limit. The result also showed the levels of most parameters of the upper Awash River water quality were generally higher in the effluent discharge point than downstream point. At upstream sampling point lowest values were obtained. Excluding pH, K, Mg, Cl-, Cu, Zn all the rest examined parameters at discharge and downstream sampling points were much higher than the maximum allowable limit. The study concludes the paper mill does not meet the EEPA and WHO prescribed discharge limits and Upper Awash River is highly polluted while the pollution is due to the discharge of effluents from the factory. There is a need of establishment and improvement of APEPM wastewater treatment system, as well as an intervention of regulatory bodies to ensure release of high quality treated final effluents from the factory.