The physiochemistry of sugar mill effluent pollution of coastlines in Pakistan

Abstract

Sugar industry is main producer of solid waste, water and noise pollution. Environmental quality is at risk when extremely polluted water from sugar industry is discharged untreated. The objective of this study was to (a) provide an overview of sugar mill effluent discharge into open drains and (b) to asses pollution contribution by sugar mill industries to the coastal district of Badin. Total nine water samples were collected from the outer boundary wall of sugar mills where sugar mill effluent is being disposed of into link drains. Arc GIS was applied as a useful tool for spatial analysis, data visualization and vector mapping. The sugar mill effluent quality information maps for the studied parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solid, salinity%, nitrates, phosphates, hardness, alkalinity, chlorides, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Hg, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe) were developed by using Arc GIS software. Resultminimum to maximum were ranged between, dissolve oxygen (3.04–9.30mg/L), pH (6.57–7.64), EC (1.193–1.417mS/cm), TDS (577–686mg/L), salinity (0.6–0.7%), COD (290–372mg/L), chlorides (221.20–836.62mg/L), hardness (166–174mg/L), alkalinity (240–500mg/L), phosphates (0.07–4.52mg/L), nitrates (2.9–4.1mg/L), SiO2 (1491–4620μg/L), Na (146.2–159.8mg/L), Ca (60–140mg/L), Mg (34–41mg/L), K (3–17.4mg/L), Hg (0.024–0.105mg/L), Ni (0–0.0051mg/L), Cd (0–0.0400mg/L), Zn (0.0175–0.0338mg/L), Cu (0.0216–0.0643mg/L), Fe (0.0932–0.2710mg/L). The result indicated that all studied parameters were within the defined limits of NEQS of Pakistan for municipal and industrial effluents except two parameters mercury and COD. This phenomenon is completely negation of Environmental Act 1997 of Pakistan. Proper way of operation and imposing laws and regulations and maintaining those strictly, can reduce pollution level.