National Environmental Quality Standards Research Articles

Vertical mixing with return irrigation water the cause of arsenic enrichment in groundwater of district Larkana Sindh, Pakistan

Stable isotopes ratios (‰) of Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ1⁸O) were used to trace the groundwater recharge mechanism and geochemistry of arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater from four selected sites (Larkana, Naudero, Ghari Khuda Buksh and Dokri) of Larkana district. The stable isotope values of δ2H and δ1⁸O range from 70.78‰ to −56.01‰ and from −10.92‰ to −7.35‰, relative to Vienna Standard for Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW) respectively, in all groundwater samples, thus indicating the recharge source of groundwater from high-salinity older water. The concentrations of As in all groundwater samples were ranged from 2 μg/L to 318 μg/L, with 67% of samples exhibited As levels exceeding than that of World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit 10 μg/L and 42% of samples expressed the As level exceeding than that of the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) 50 μg/L. The leaching and vertical mixing with return irrigation water are probably the main processes controlling the enrichment of As in groundwater of Larkana, Naudero, Ghari Khuda Buksh and Dokri. The weathering of minerals mostly controlled the overall groundwater chemistry; rock-water interactions and silicate weathering generated yielded solutions that were saturated in calcite and dolomite in two areas while halite dissolution is prominent with high As area.

Environmental assessment of toxic metals from Canal on Mehran University water treatment plant, Jamshoro, Pakistan

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the heavy metals in Mehran University water treatment plant, Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. The water samples were collected throughout the year (June 2016 to May 2017) from different locations such as raw water source (Kalri Baghar feeder), Mehran University water treatment plant and water distribution network from water treatment plant to the departments of Mehran University. The water samples from different locations were coded as S1 (Kalri Baghar Feeder/intake raw water source), from Mehran University water treatment plant (S2–S4), i.e., S2 (sedimentation tank outlet), S3 (post-filtration), S4 (Mehran University storage tank) and at last from Mehran University department, i.e., S5 (institute of water resources management), respectively. The atomic absorption spectrometry technique was used to evaluate the levels of heavy metals in water samples from different locations. The ranges of mean concentrations were analyzed from different locations (S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5) in Mehran water treatment plant such as for zinc from 60.368 to 137.6 µg/L, for copper from 1.82 to 4.08 µg/L, for chromium from 1.709 to 3.448 µg/L, for arsenic from 3.08 to 4.29 µg/L, for mercury and cadmium were observed under below detection limit. The detection limit of these metals was observed at 1, 0.5, 0.2, 2, 2 and 0.05 µg/L for zinc, copper, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, respectively. The recovery of the spike analyte was observed from 95 to 103% in different locations. The observed concentrations of selected heavy metals are under World Health Organization and National Environmental Quality Standards guideline limits.

Selection of Priority Contaminants in a Watershed Using Risk Ranking Methodology

The present study focuses on the risk rankings of different contaminants from Daling River in Liaoning Province, China, for categorizing the environmental risk levels in the river. Eighteen surface water samples were collected from Daling River, which has been polluted by the surrounding fluorine industries for years. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and heavy metals were analyzed, and relevant eco-toxicity data obtained from literatures were considered. The median concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were observed as 0.77-3.57 ng·L-1 and 82.93-344 ng·L-1, respectively, which were lower than the standard limits of the United Kingdom. The concentrations of heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were found to be lower than level Ⅳ of the Chinese national environmental quality standards for surface water. The maximum concentrations of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were higher than the standard level Ⅲ. The environmental risks ranged from 1.42×10-6 to 2.3×10-2. The order of the risks by potential environmental contaminants was Cu > Zn > As > p,p'-DDE > p,p'-DDT > Cd > Pb > Hg > PFOA > γ-HCH > Cr > Ni > α-HCH > PFOS. The present findings revealed that the environmental risks of PFOS and PFOA were relatively low and these were not taken as priority contaminants, but the accumulation risks could not be overlooked for a long time. Among the contaminants, copper (Cu) was the priority contaminant of Daling River. Hence, necessary measures are recommended to reduce the potential effects of contaminants on the environment.

Accumulation of heavy metals in native Andean plants: potential tools for soil phytoremediation in Ancash (Peru).

Metal contamination is a recurring problem in Peru, caused mainly by mine tailings from a past active mining activity. The Ancash region has the largest number of environmental liabilities, which mobilizes high levels of metals and acid drainages into soils and freshwater sources, posing a standing risk on human and environmental health. Native plant species spontaneously growing on naturally acidified soils and acid mine tailings show a unique tolerance to high metal concentrations and are thus potential candidates for soil phytoremediation. However, little is known about their propagation capacity and metal accumulation under controlled conditions. In this study, we aimed at characterizing nine native plant species, previously identified as potential hyperaccumulators, from areas impacted by mine tailings in the Ancash region. Plants were grown on mine soils under greenhouse conditions during 5months, after which the concentration of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn was analyzed in roots, shoots, and soils. The bioaccumulation (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated to determine the amount of each metal accumulated in the roots and shoots and to identify which species could be better suited for phytoremediation purposes. Soil samples contained high Cd (6.50-49.80mg/kg), Cu (159.50-1187.00mg/kg), Ni (3.50-8.70mg/kg), Pb (1707.00-4243.00mg/kg), and Zn (909.00-7100.00mg/kg) concentrations exceeding national environmental quality standards. After exposure to mine tailings, concentrations of metals in shoots were highest in Werneria nubigena (Cd, 16.68mg/kg; Cu, 41.36mg/kg; Ni, 26.85mg/kg; Zn, 1691.03mg/kg), Pennisetum clandestinum (Pb, 236.86mg/kg), and Medicago lupulina (Zn, 1078.10mg/kg). Metal concentrations in the roots were highest in Juncus bufonius (Cd, 34.34mg/kg; Cu, 251.07mg/kg; Ni, 6.60mg/kg; Pb, 718.44mg/kg) and M. lupulina (Zn, 2415.73mg/kg). The greatest BAF was calculated for W. nubigena (Cd, 1.92; Cu, 1.20; Ni, 6.50; Zn, 3.50) and J. bufonius (Ni, 3.02; Zn, 1.30); BCF for Calamagrostis recta (Cd, 1.09; Cu, 1.80; Ni, 1.09), J. bufonius (Cd, 3.91; Cu, 1.79; Ni, 18.36), and Achyrocline alata (Ni, 137; Zn, 1.85); and TF for W. nubigena (Cd, 2.36; Cu, 1.70; Ni, 2.42; Pb, 1.17; Zn, 1.43), A. alata (Cd, 1.14; Pb, 1.94), J. bufonius (Ni, 2.72; Zn, 1.63), and P. clandestinum (Zn, 1.14). Our results suggest that these plant species have a great potential for soil phytoremediation, given their capability to accumulate and transfer metals and their tolerance to highly metal-polluted environments in the Andean region.

Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in the Vicinity of Khurrianwala Industrial Zone, Pakistan

The industrial augmentation and unguided anthropogenic activities contaminate water sources in most parts of the world especially in developing countries like Pakistan. High concentration of pollutants in groundwater affects human, soil, and crop health badly. The present study was conducted to investigate groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes in an industrial zone of Pakistan. A GIS tool was used to investigate the spatial distribution of different physico-chemical parameters. In this study, the average results exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) were found for pH 7.84, total dissolved solids (TDS) 1492 mg/L, phosphate 0.51 mg/L, dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.92% saturation, F-coli 6.48 colonies/100 mL, Na+ 366 mg/L, HCO3− 771 mg/L, sulfate 251 mg/L, chlorides 427 mg/L, total hardness (as CaCO3) 292 mg/L, electrical conductivity (EC) 2408 μS/cm, iron (Fe) 0.48 mg/L, chrome (Cr) 0.50 mg/L, arsenic (As) 0.04 mg/L, total phosphorus (TP) 0.17 mg/L, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 9.76 (in meq/L), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) 9.28 meq/L, % ion balance 14.4 (in meq/L), percentage sodium ion (% Na+) concentration 58.9 meq/L, and water quality index (WQI) 69.0. The trend of cations and anions were (in meq/L) Na > Mg > Ca > K and HCO3 > Cl > CO3 > SO4 respectively. Although the results of the present study showed poor conditions of the groundwater for drinking as WQI but and irrigation purposes as SAR, it needs to improve some more conditions for the provision of safe drinking water and irrigation water quality.

Measurement of volatile organic compounds and associated risk assessments through ingestion and dermal routes in Dongjiang Lake, China

This study aims to investigate the occurrence, distribution and risk assessment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Dongjiang Lake of China. Twenty two kinds of VOCs were detected, and the major VOCs were alkene compounds. The total concentration of VOCs (∑VOCs) ranged from 2.93 to 4.69 µg/L, and none of the VOCs detected in Dongjiang Lake exceeded the concentration limits set in the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (GB5749-2006) or the National Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002) of China. Risk quotients (RQ) model, Multimedia Environment Pollutant Assessment System (MEPAS) and value of odor hazard index (OHI) were used to assess the ecological risk, lifetime carcinogenic risk and olfactory risk of VOCs in Dongjiang Lake, respectively. The RQtotal values varied from 3.95 × 10−3 to 0.34 and the RQ values for all the 22 detected VOCs in 12 sample locations of Dongjiang Lake were below 0.01, which means negligible risk to aquatic organisms. The cancerous and non-cancerous risk indices were in the range of 2.31 × 10−9–5.16 × 10−7 and 1.68 × 10−7–1.45 × 10−2, respectively. Bromodichloromethane and 1,1-dichloroethene were associated with the highest and lowest carcinogenic risks in all 12 sample locations. Results also demonstrated that the olfactory risk in Dongjiang Lake is negligible. These data suggest that the VOCs in Dongjiang Lake may not lead great ecological and health risks for organism and human.

Contamination Levels and Ecological Risk Assessment of Phthalate Esters (PAEs) in the Aquatic Environment of Key Areas of Taihu Lake

To better understand phthalate esters (PAEs) pollution in key areas of Taihu Lake, water and sediment samples were collected for content analysis. The concentrations of ∑PAEs in water samples from wet, dry, and normal seasons ranged 1.6-11.2 μg·L-1 (mean:3.68 μg·L-1), nd-6.21 μg·L-1 (mean:1.3 μg·L-1), and nd-1.72 μg·L-1 (mean:0.48 μg·L-1), respectively. No differences were found between upstream and downstream samples. DEHP was the predominant component in water samples, whereas DBP exceeded the national surface water environmental quality standards. The total PAE concentration in the sediment ranged between 0.74 and 6.90 μg·g-1 (mean:2.64 μg·g-1), with DBP and DEHP the predominant PAEs. The risk quotient (RQ) results showed that DBP and DEHP contributed the most potentially adverse effects to the aquatic environment in the key areas. The contents of PAEs in sediment were all less than the ERLs, thus posing no significant threat to aquatic organisms. The overall level of PAEs in the study area was moderate compared to those in other areas, including rivers, lakes, and estuaries from cities worldwide. Industrial pollution and urban activities are the major sources of PAEs in the aquatic environment of key areas of Taihu Lake.

Pollution and energy reduction strategy in soft drink industries.

The present study was conducted on soft drink industry with the objective to reduce wastewater pollution through end-of-pipe treatment and controlling energy loss through steam pipeline insulation approach. For this purpose, the main operation and manufacturing steps were examined. Wastewater was analyzed for 10 physicochemical parameters. Among these parameters, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were above their permissible level of Pakistan national environmental quality standards (Pak NEQS). For wastewater treatment, sedimentation, flocculation, coagulation and adsorption were tested. The active study reduces the pollution load up to 48%. After treatment, all the parameters were below the Pak NEQS level. To reduce the energy loss and economic benefits, the steam pipeline system was galvanized using glass wool, sheet and paper. Through galvanizing, 91.4% of energy was recovered and reduced an extra cost of 91.5%. The net saving of energy and cost are 312GJ and114098Rs/year, respectively. The study recommends end off pipe treatment and insulation of bare pipeline system for soft drink industries.

Optimization of sequencing batch reactor for wastewater treatment using chemically enhanced primary treatment as a pre-treatment

The sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is a wastewater treatment option feasible for low flows. The objective of this research was to optimize SBR by varying its operational parameters, viz. (i) settling time and (ii) reaction time. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, raw wastewater was fed into the SBR after conventional settling, while in Phase 2 raw wastewater was fed into the SBR after coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation. A bench-scale model was set up and domestic wastewater was used for this study. Performance of the treatment system was evaluated through 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS). The results demonstrated that reaction time was reduced to 4 h in Phase 2 compared to 10 h in Phase 1. The BOD, COD and TSS removal efficiencies observed in Phase 1 were 80%, 80% and 73%, respectively, and for Phase 2 the removal efficiencies were 74%, 75% and 80% respectively. National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) were met in both cases and the treatment cost per cubic metre of wastewater for Phase 2 was 2.5 times lower compared to Phase 1.

Industrial wastewater treatment in internal circulation bioreactor followed by wetlands containing emergent plants and algae.

Wastewater treatment based on ecological principles is a low cost and highly desirable solution for the developing countries like Pakistan. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of biological treatment systems including Internal Circulation (IC) anaerobic bioreactor and constructed wetlands (CWs) containing macrophytes and mixed algal cultures for industrial wastewater treatment. The IC bioreactor reduced COD (52%), turbidity (89%), EC (24%) of the industrial wastewater. However, the effluents of IC bioreactor did not comply with National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of Pakistan. Post-treatment of IC bioreactor effluents was accomplished in CW containing macrophytes (Arundo donax and Eichhornia crassipes) and mixed algal culture. The CWs planted with macrophytes lowered the concentrations of COD (89%) and turbidity (99%). CWs with algal biomass were not effective in further polishing the effluent. Inhibition of algal biomass growth was observed due to physicochemical characteristics of wastewater. The integrated treatment system consisting of IC bioreactor and macrophytes was found more suitable option for industrial wastewater treatment.

Impacto del Dren 4000 al Ecosistema Marino de la Caleta Santa Rosa, Lambayeque y Alternativas de Recuperación

The objective was to identify the environmental impacts generated by the Drain 4000 of the Caleta Santa Rosa, due to its high contamination as a result of industrial activities; it presents environmental problems that we must solve.The Maximum Permissible Limits for Effluents (LMP), issued by the Ministry of the Environment for domestic and municipal wastewater treatment plants, the Maximum Permissible Limits (LMP) for the fishmeal and fish oil industry, issued by the Ministry were applied. Of the production; and for marine waters, the National Environmental Quality Standards (ECA), giving high levels of pollution. The number of total and thermotolerant coliforms, total suspended solids and BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) exceed the maximum permissible limits and the values established in the national environmental quality standards, causing a negative impact on the marine ecosystem. Therefore, it has been proposed recovery alternatives, among the most important: Implementation of a registry of volumes of disembarkation of the resources coming from the operations of the fish processing companies, monthly reports to the General Directorates of Fishing Extraction and Processing and Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, and the proposal of a relocation project of the oxidation lagoon, among others.

Comparison of two alluvial aquifers shows the probable role of river sediments on the release of arsenic in the groundwater of district Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan

The study was done to assess the effect of the river Sutlej on arsenic (As) contamination. Sampling was done from the alluvial plain with increasing distance from the river Sutlej in district Vehari and compared with the study done in the proximity of River Sutlej. Sixty (60) groundwater samples mostly from shallow depths were collected and analyzed for As concentrations. Multivariate statistical tools (PCA and CA), saturation index, piper plots and Gibbs diagrams were used to detect evidence about the interrelationship and sources of As and other water quality variables responsible for groundwater contamination. Results revealed that As concentration ranged from below detection limit to 156 µg/L indicating that 50% samples exceeding the WHO guidelines (10 µg/L) and 17% exceeding the Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) limits (50 µg/L) Sutlej. The piper plot revealed that water chemistry of the study area was Ca–HCO3−, Ca–Mg–Cl, type. Correlations between As and HCO3− (r2 = 0.433) was positive, while negative correlations were observed between As–Mn2+ and As–Fe2+ (r2 = − 0.102), (r2 = 0.107) respectively. Geochemical signatures of the groundwater in the study area showed that the As could be released by oxidative dissolution to some extent and elevated evaporation in the arid environment of the study area under the stimulus of alkaline water and high pH (range 7.1–8.4). Although the concentrations are exceeding the WHO limit in 50% of the water samples but, are less than the previous study done in Mailsi near River Sutlej. Further, the concentrations decreased as the distance from the River increased which shows the probable role of sediments deposited by the River Sutlej.

Heavy metals in soils and sediments from Dongting Lake in China: occurrence, sources, and spatial distribution by multivariate statistical analysis.

Heavy metal contamination in soils/sediments and its impact on human health and ecological environment have aroused wide concerns. Our study investigated 30 samples of soils and sediments around Dongting Lake to analyze the concentration of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the samples and to distinguish the natural and anthropogenic sources. Also, the relationship between heavy metals and the physicochemical properties of samples was studied by multivariate statistical analysis. Concentration of Cd at most sampling sites were more than five times that of national environmental quality standard for soil in China (GB 15618-1995), and Pb and Zn levels exceeded one to two times. Moreover, Cr in the soil was higher than the national environmental quality standards for one to two times while in sediment was lower than the national standard. The investigation revealed that the accumulations of As, Cd, Mn, and Pb in the soils, and sediments were affected apparently by anthropogenic activities; however, Cr, Fe, and Ni levels were impacted by parent materials. Human activities around Dongting Lake mainly consisted of industrial activities, mining and smelting, sewage discharges, fossil fuel combustion, and agricultural chemicals. The spatial distribution of heavy metal in soil followed the rule of geographical gradient, whereas in sediments, it was significantly affected by the river basins and human activities. The result of principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that heavy metals in soils were associated with pH and total phosphorus (TP), while in sediments, As, Cr, Fe, and Ni were closely associated with cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH, where Pb, Zn, and Cd were associated with total nitrogen (TN), TP, total carbon (TC), moisture content (MC), soil organic matter (SOM), and ignition lost (IL). Our research provides comprehensive approaches to better understand the potential sources and the fate of contaminants in lakeshore soils and sediments.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Human Health Risk of Surface Waters in the City of Ningbo, China

In order to evaluate the present situation and the potential ecological risk of heavy metal pollution in the surface waters of eastern Chinese coastal cities, the city of Ningbo was used as an example. From surface waters in Ningbo, 255 water samples were collected. The concentrations of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were measured for the samples. The potential ecological risk of these heavy metals was evaluated by calculating health risk and cancer risk indices. The results indicate that, in the surface waters of Ningbo, the average concentrations of the six heavy metals were in the increasing order of Zn > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd > Cu. Three of the heavy metal concentrations exceeded the national environmental quality standards for surface water (GB 3838-2002, grade Ⅴ), and the order of exceeding the standard:Cd > Pb > Cr. Electroplating wastewater, metal waste produced, traffic pollutant, dyes, and coatings waste were the main pollutant sources. There were some potential health risks in over 70 percent of the surface waters in Ningbo, and the surface waters of the Zhenhai and Haishu districts had the highest potential health risk. There were three major potential health risk heavy metals, and their order of increasing risk was Cd > Cr > Pb. For adults and juveniles, the average carcinogenic risk indices were 17600 and 24800 times the critical values, respectively. Moreover, over 95 percent of the risks were attributed to Cr. The potential carcinogenic risk index of commercial areas with dense population was nearly 2 times that of the city average. The results indicated that the state of heavy metal pollution in the surface waters of Ningbo was very serious, thus the government should pay more attention to this issue.

An innovative design of septic tank for wastewater treatment and its performance evaluation: An applicable model for developing countries

Abstract A study was carried out to evaluate the treatment efficiency of modified model of septic tank (ST) for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The objective was to explore the possibility of increasing the removal efficiency, at household level, thereby reducing cost and treatment burden on city level treatment plants. For this purpose, a bench scale model of ST was prepared and operated continuously for 78 days at different detention times i . e ., 48, 24 and 12 h and at two reactor temperatures viz . 15 °C and 25 °C. Domestic wastewater was fed to the bench scale ST without pre-settling. Research was conducted under two different arrangements. Firstly, by installing baffles in the bench scale ST (called Run-1 setup), and secondly by installing perforated plates between the baffles (called Run-2 setup). Results demonstrated that Run-2 setup is better than Run-1 setup. Temperature significantly affects the efficiency. Detention time of 24 h was found feasible. Run-2 setup demonstrated a percentage BOD removal of 45% with effluent BOD of 113 mg·L − 1 at 15 °C and 85% removal with effluent BOD of 31 mg·L − 1 at 25 °C. It is concluded that if a modified design of ST using Run-2 setup is provided at household level, the effluent coming out of the house will meet the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) when reactor temperature is close to 25 °C. Development authorities are suggested to change their by-laws and make modified ST mandatory for all households. This may significantly reduce the cost and footprint of city level wastewater treatment plants being planned.

Groundwater status in Pakistan: A review of contamination, health risks, and potential needs

ABSTRACTWe examined the current groundwater (used for drinking) quality in Pakistan after implementation of Millennium Development Goals, including contaminants, their sources, and relevant health impacts. The drinking water quality parameters of most of the reported results exceeded the guidelines suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Natural sources of groundwater contamination have been activated due to anthropogenic activities like mining, and open dumping of industrial and domestic wastes which lead to poor groundwater quality. Globally, 780 million people, and 100 million people in Pakistan are exposed to unsafe water sources. Therefore, this review demonstrates the potential needs to achieve the safe drinking water goal of the Agenda 2030. The development of a proper monitoring network, installation of treatment plants, and implementation of legislations are recommended in this review.

Study of environmental indicators in a thermal power plant in Lahore, Pakistan

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the environmental indicators of an ISO 14001:2004 certified thermal power plant located at Raiwind road Lahore.Design/methodology/approachThe research study included employee interviews, noise monitoring, effluent and ground water sampling, stack emission testing, and assessment of the solid waste management system.FindingsSemi-structured interviews randomly conducted with employees showed a 57 percent environmental awareness response. The stack emission results showed that the nitrogen oxide (NOx) from engine no. 5 and 7 was 2,447 and 2,624 mg/Nm3, respectively, higher than the World Bank limit of 2,300 mg/Nm3 as well as exceeding the 600 mg/Nm3 set by the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) with no emission control technology in place. The ground water and effluent samples were found unfit for irrigation purposes. Electrical conductivity exceeded the permissible level of Directorate of Land Reclamation (DLR) irrigation water quality criteria of 1.5 dS/m. Similarly, the sodium absorption ratio (SAR) exceeded 10 mmolc/l. Residual sodium carbonate was more than the DLR permissible level of 2.5 me/l. The noise level in the engine hall was 103 dB(A) which is beyond the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s permissible exposure limit of 90 dB(A) and the NEQS for industrial area at day time, i.e. 75 dB(A).Research limitations/implicationsThe research analysis shows that environmental survey may serve as an example for other power plants to review their environmental policy and be more vigilant as an environmentally conscious organization.Originality/valueThis paper underscores an easy understanding and evaluation of environmental indicators that are minor but neglected in a thermal power plant. The sampling, testing, and employee awareness are crucial to gauge the level of an organization’s conformity with the international quality, occupational health, and environmental standards.

The Spatio-temporal Evolution in Water Quality Monitoring and Typical Index Analysis of Sifeng Reservoir

This study aimed to understand the water quality circumstance of Sifeng Reservoir thoroughly, according to the national environmental quality standard of surface water. Due to the comprehensive artificial lake scenic spot, combined with flood control, irrigation, tourism and was used in a variety of ways. Regularly measure the water temperature, pH and turbidity. BOD and COD, total phosphorus, potassium permanganate index and total number of E. coli were measured in different sections. All measurement data are based on time-space distribution compared with national standards. According to the corresponding standard conditions, time and activities of the reservoir water environment to detect, taking into account climate factors. Discussing the problem of the different time and space variation of the reservoir, and on the basis of combining with the testing data, the location in spatial and temporal change of water quality were analyzed. It is concluded that the present excessive pollution factor and more than â…¤ class standard was COD, other indicators satisfied the â…¢ according to the Chinese standard for surface water.

Fertilizer industrial effluents: Physico-chemical characterization and water quality parameters evaluation

In this study, effluents from four different fertilizer industrial units, producing different fertilizers have been analyzed for various physicochemical features. The color, odour, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chloride (Cl−), fluoride (F−), carbonate (CO32−), bicarbonate (HCO31−), ammonia (NH3), nitrate (NO3−), nitrite (NO2−), phosphate (PO43−), sulphate (SO42−), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) were determined using standard analytical procedures. The values of measured parameters were found significantly (P<0.05) higher than the permissible limits recommended for wastewater. In comparison to national environmental quality standards, it was concluded that the effluents from fertilizer industries require proper treatment prior to discharge into the environment.

ASSESSMENT OF WASTEWATER FOR DISPOSAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEQS CRITERIA AND ITS REUSE FOR IRRIGATION WITH DILUTION

According to Section 11 of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997, “No person shall discharge or emit or allow the discharge of any effluent or waste in an amount, concentration or level which is more than the National Environmental Quality Standards(NEQS)”. Even in the presence of this act there are many housing societies and Industrial zones, which are continuously disposing off their untreated wastewater to the natural water bodies. In this study Laboratory investigations on 5 composite samples were carried out. Total of 19 parameters were analyzed including Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen demand (COD), Sulfide, Fluoride, Lead, Nickel, Boron, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Chlorine Total and Chromium hexavalent with average value of 502.6, 665.6, 267.4, 453.8, 3.1,5.3 0.6, 0.4, 1.4, 0.5, 0.5, 2.15, 0.6 and 0.5 mg/L respectively. TSS, BOD, COD and Mn exceeded the limits of NEQS for all samples.The same wastewater can be used for irrigation purpose if it fulfills FAO irrigation water criteria. For this purpose, important properties like SAR, Sodium ratio, Salt Index, Residual Sodium Carbonate, Permeability Index, Magnesium Adsorption Ratio, Sulfate ion and Boron were analyzed having result of 9.36 √(meq/L), 5.64, 75 ppm, 4.66 meq/L, 110.46, 0.42, 6.07 meq/L, 1.386 mg/L mean concentrations respectively, violating the standards. A dilution factor of 1.09 litters is computed per liter of sewage to minimize, the concentrations of exceeded parameters by mixing with normal water, into a range that can be used safely for irrigation.