ISSN:  1579-­4377  

EVALUATION OF INDUSTRIAL AND CITY EFFLUENT QUALITY

USING PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS.

Adnan Amin*1, Taufeeq Ahmad 2, Malik Ehsanullah 3, Irfanullah 4 Muhammad Masror Khatak5 and
Muhammad Ayaz Khan1.
(GCBB) Gomal University D.I.Khan. Gomal University D.I.Khan, Microbiology Research Lab(MRL)
Quaid I Azam University Islamabad Pakistan.
dani_amin79@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Industrialization comes with its effects on life if left with untreated discharge leading to
water, soil and sediment pollution. Current study aimed to evaluate industrial effluent
discharge using physicochemical and biological parameters. Effluent discharge samples
were taken from sugar mills, ghee mills, PVC pipe city waste, Indus river and Hand pump
located at back of River Indus. PH ranged from 6.28-8.17, E.C 153-615µs/cm, TDS 77-
412.05mg/L TSS 2-393.6mg/L, Dissolved O2 4.29-719 mg/L and Turbidity 0-630 NTU.
Titrimetric analysis (chemical) reported Ca/Mg 1-6.84mg/L HCO3- 420-1300mg/L, Cl- 24-
500mg/L and no CO3- were reported Spectrophometric analysis represented both U.V and
Visible light active compounds. Heavy metal reported for Fe 043-2.23, Zn 0.008-4.566, CU
0.045-1.45, Pb0.005-1.89 and Ni 001-0.522(10−6). Biological assessment showed presence
of microves including Staphylococcus aurous, Pseudomonas areginosa, and enterobacter and
antamoeba histolytica. As all samples were found to have increasing trends towards
pollution limits therefore Industrial effluents need a continuous monitoring and proper
management before discharge in order to reduce future hazards in reference to aquatic and
human life .

KEYWORDS

Evaluation, industrial, physicochemical, biological, parameters.

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INTRODUCTION

A great global threat is environmental pollution and various undesirable changes due to it in
the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of air, water and soil, finally affecting
human, animals and plants life. (Misra and Dinesh, 1991). The rapid industrialization is
accompanied by both direct and indirect adverse effect on environment (Nasrullah et al.,
2006). Industrial development (Either new or existing industry expansion) results in the
generation of industrial effluents, and if untreated results in water, sediment and soil
pollution. (Fakayode and Onianwa, 2002; Fakayode, 2005). It has been observed that a wide
majority of industries discharge untreated effluent into river and only (10%) industries
surveyed had primary treatment plants ranging from oxidation tanks, sedimentation tanks in
developing countries. (Dada 1997). Having mainly excessive amounts of heavy metals such
as Pb, Cr and Fe (Ahmed, 2000). Heavy metals from industrial processes are of special
concern because they produce water or chronic poisoning in aquatic animals (Ellis, 1989).
High levels of pollutants mainly organic matter in river water cause an increase in
biological oxygen demand (Kulkarni, 1979), chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved
solids, total suspended solids and fecal coliform. They make water unsuitable for drinking,
irrigation or any other use. (Hari et al., 1994).
There are trends in developing countries to use sewage effluent as fertilizer has
gained much importance as it is considered a source of organic matter and plant nutrients
and serves as good fertilizer.(O'Riordan et al., 1983) Farmers are mainly interested in
general benefits, like increased agriculture production, low cost water source, effective way
of effluent disposal, source of nutrients, organic matter etc, but are not well aware of its
harmful effects like heavy metal contamination of soils, crops and quality problems related
to health. Research has proven that long term use of this sewage effluent for irrigation
contaminates soil and crops to such an extent that it becomes toxic to plants and causes
deterioration of soil (Quinn and Syers, 1978; Hemkes, et al., 1980). This contains
considerable amount of potentially harmful substances including soluble salts and heavy
metals like Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+. Additions of these heavy metals are
undesirable (O'Riordan et al., 1983.)
Plant do not take up the heavy metals in their tissues except in small amounts.(Peters
et al, 1986)yet the risk of contamination of plant tissues always exists(Christensen 1995 ),
which not only interfere the micronutrients flow in the plant , but in the crops they effect the
soil quality by influencing the microbial enzyme activities and microbial biomass is greatly
reduced.(Sedman and mehmood 1994). Plants can accumulate heavy metals in their tissues
in concentrations above the permitted levels which is considered to represent a threat to the
life of humans, and animals feeding on these crops and may lead to contamination of food
chain, as observed (Khan et al., 1994) that soil and plants contained many toxic metals, that
received irrigation water mixed with industrial effluent. Similarly, in few reports (Jaffer et
al. 1995) it was found many fish containing higher concentrations of heavy metals in the
area of Southeast Arabian Sea where polluted industrial water is thrown though Malir River.
Present study aimed to evaluate various industrial and city effluents in district
D.I.Khan by various physiochemical and biological parameters and to predict the possible
danger to aquatic life in river Indus and suggest necessary steps to be taken into account by
industry to maintain the healthy environment.  

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

STUDY AREA

The river Indus is the largest river of Pakistan and servers as a back bone in Pakistan’s
economy. The river provides a major source of white meet (Fishery). River is now
continuously been polluted by city and industrial waste which is regarded as a continous
threat to local environment. Present study was aimed to address effluents discharge from
sugars industry(Chashma 1 Sugar Mills), PVC pipe industry ( Indus PVC industry), and
Ghee Mills (Chashma ghee Mills), D.I.Khan city waste (having effluents of cottage
industry), samples from river Indus and hand pumps located at bank of River Indus using
various physicochemical and Biological parameters.

SAMPLE COLLECTION

Surface water samples for analysis were collected during the November-December 2009. At
each time of surface water collection, three separate set of samples were collected, one each
for the determination of heavy metals, physico-chemical and biological parameters
respectively. Samples were collected in clean polythene bottles that have been prewashed
with 10% nitric acid and thoroughly rinsed with deionized water.

ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES:

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS

Samples were assessed for various physicochemical parameters like odour, temperature
(calibrated thermometer, EPA, 1998), pH (potentiometeric method) and Turbidity
(Nephelometer, (ASTM, 2003, US EPA 2002 a,b).

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

Dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation and oxygen pressure parameters were determined by
using oxygen meter (Oxi Lab) using standard protocols.(Wilde ed, 2006, Rounds, S.A.,
2006)

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC):

EC is the measure of the ability of an aqueous solution to convey an electric current. This
ability depends upon the presence of ions, their total concentration, mobility, valence and
temperature. EC was determined by conductivity meter (Oxi Lab) following the procedure of
Richard (1954).

TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS):

Total suspended solids are the portion of solids that usually remains on the filter paper.
Suspended solids consist of silt, clay, fine particles of organic and inorganic matter, which is
regarded as a type of pollution because water high in concentration of suspended solid may

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adversely affect growth and reproduction rates of aquatic fauna and flora. For TSS analysis,
known amount of sample was filtered through the pre weighed filter paper. Filter paper was
o
then dried at 103-105 C. TSS was determined by using following formula (Anon, 1992).

TSS mg/L = (final wt _ initial wt)/amount of sample taken * 1000

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS):

Total dissolved solids (TDS) is the measure of total inorganic salts and other substances that
are dissolved in water. TDS was determined following the procedure of Richard (1954) by
using Electrical Conductivity (EC) meter.

TDS (mg/L) = ECµs/cm *0.67

U.V SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

The possibility of various compounds in sample to be responsive in ultraviolet and visible

region was detected using double beam U.V spectrophotometer. The sample were analyzed
by serial dilution method (10 times) and results were analyzed in terms of lambda max from
190-950nm.(Palin et al 1957)

CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Titrimetric Analysis
Assessment of chemical parameters was done by using trimetric analysis. Briefly total
hardness as CaCo3 (Ca and Mg) was determined by titration of samples against EDTA,
Chloride against AGNO3, Bicarbonates (HCO3) against H2S04.

TRACE METAL ANALYSIS

Method for the estimation of trace metals ( 10) such as for Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni in the
industrial effluent were as per methods of Malik et al.(1984)

BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

Presence of microorganism in the samples were assessed by spread plate method. Briefly
waste samples obtained from the source in previously sterilized bottles. About 1 ml of each
sample was separately loaded on the pre sterilized nutrient agar culture plates (20g /L) and
spread with the help of spreader. After inoculation the agar plates were incubated for 24-
72hrs at 37Cº and observed for microbial growth. These were further processed for gram
staining. After the gram staining the microorganism were identified using Biochemical Tests
(Bergey’s manual of determinative Bacteriology 6th edition).
 

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS

It has been reported that (David et al., 1996), optimum pH of irrigation water ranges from
6.5 to 8.5, while the permissible limit is 9. The buffering capacity of soil tends to bring
homeostasis and lower the pH of the effluents applied according to pH of the soil (Nyle,
1984). Overall PH value ranged from 6.28 to 8.17{Mean7.54(±0.69SD)}. The pH of the
effluents from sugar, ghee and PVC pipe industry was within the ranges set by NEQS (6 to
10). (Table 1)
Table.1 Physical Parameters

Effluent PH EC µs/cm TDS mg/L TSS mg/L DO mg/L Turbidity NTU

Ghee Mills 8.17 316 211.72 198.24 4.29 550

PVC Pipe 7.95 153 102 160.52 3.4 26
Sugar Mills 7.73 467 312.89 298.88 4.84 466
Indus River 6.28 290 193.3 249.6 7.11 126
City Waste 7.96 116 77.72 2 7.19 0.1
River Hand pump 7.33 615 412.05 393.6 4.34 630

Mean 7.54(±0.69SD) 278.5(±189.1SD) 186.3(±126.8SD) 110.9(±133.2SD) 5.0(±1.58SD) 61.2(±280.8SD)

 
Observed turbidity ranged from 0-630 NTU maximum values obtained was that of
city waste. These result revealed that all samples were highly turbid (FEPA 1991) and may
effect the quality of surface water (Wakawa et al 2008) and surrounding ecosystem.(Table1)

CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Cl presence in the samples is mainly determined to know the Hcl, Nacl and other clroinated
compound formation capacity of the sample. It was noted that all industrial effluents were
provided with Cl concentration in accordance with (WHO1999) limits(100mg/L). High Cl
concentrations may lead to development of kidney stones, cardiovascular disease etc(De and
Jhon 1990) (Table 2)

Table 2. Chemical Parameters

Sample Ca/Mg (mg/L) CO3 (mg/L) HCO3(mg/L) Cl(mg/L)

Ghee Mills 1 Nil 1300 55
PVC Pipe Industry 6 Nil 600 500
Sugar Industry 4 Nil 720 24
Indus River 3.36 Nil 160 95
River Hand pump 4 Nil 420 105
City Waste 6.84 Nil 1060 85

Mean 3.60(±2.06S D) 584.8(±416.9 SD) 90.7(± 176.89 SD)

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Bicarbonates, carbonates etc are the major contributors in alkalinity development.

Almost all samples were found in the defined ranges yet ghee sample, city waste were near
limits.(Bangash et al 2006)( Table 2).
Total hardness as Caco3 reported was found within the limits(WHO 1999).however
it is important to know that high CaCo3 values may cause pipe corrosions, G.I.T irritation,
diarrhea, kidney stones etc (De and Jhon 1990)(Table 2).

SPECTROPHOTMETRIC ANALYSIS

Spectrophotometric analysis for the presence of ultraviolet and visible light active substance
was determined by checking light absorbance at U.V and visible ranges Maximum 9
different λmax was observed in city waste sample. This spectrum was used a preliminary
tool for detection of substances. (Table 3).

Table 3 U.V Visible Spectrophotometric Analysis

Sample Ultra Voilet Region(190-400nm) Visible Region 400-800 nm

Ghee Mills 1 0
PVC Pipe Industry 2 4
Sugar Industry 7 8
Indus River 0 2
River Hand pump 0 6
City Waste 0 9

 
HEAVY METAL ANALYSIS

Results of analysis of heavy metals (i.e., iron, zinc, copper, lead, and nickel) in effluents are
given in Table 4. As shown all trace metal were found within the per permisiible ranges set
by NSEQ. It is however important to note that even very small quantity of some trace metals
can b hazardous to life of plants and animals(Agarwal, 1999, ATSDR, 1993).
 
Table 4 Trace Metal Analysis

Effluent Fe (10−6) Zn (10−6) Cu (10−6) Pb (10−6) Ni (10−6)

Ghee Mills 1.41 0.215 0.058 0.073 0.522

Pvc Pipe Industry 0.314 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Sugar Industry 0.415 0.045 0 .045 0.000 0.012
Indus River 0.156 0.013 0.126 0.048 0.001
River Hand Pump 0.043 0.008 0.000 0.005 0.000
City waste 2.23 4.546 1.4500 0.189 0.232

Mean 0.374(±0.86SD) 0.085((±2.01SD) 0.147(±0.67SD) 0.042(±0.078) 0.034(±.244SD)

NEQS 2.0 5.000 1.000 0.500 1.000

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BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

Almost all samples (including hand pump) were found contaminated with microorganisms
which were later identified as pseudomonas aurginosa, Staphylococcus areous, enterobacter,
antamoeba histolitica and e.coli. City waste and hand pump having high no of colonies of
pseudomonas aurginosa which gram negative uropathogen is causing U.T.I etc. Presence of
these microves in the tape water (which is used for drinking) is an alarming situation. As all
industrial effluents were supporting growth of microorganism, the same can be used for
Biodegradation processes in order to reduce the toxicity of industrial effluents and to make
this environment friendly.(Table 5).
Table. 5

Industry Microorganism
Ghee Mills Pseudomnas aeroginosa, enterobacter
PVC Pipe
Staphylococus areous, Entamoeba histolitica
Industry
Sugar Industry Pseudomnas aeroginosa, Algae, Antamoeba histolitica
Indus River Pseudomnas aeroginosa, Enterobacter, e.coli, Entamoeba histolitica
River Hand pump Enterobacter, e.coli, Entamoeba histolitica, Pesudomonas aeroginosa
Pseudomnas aeroginosa, Anterobacter, e.coli, Entamoeba histolitica, Staphylococus
City Waste
areous

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that industrial effluent having the tendency towards toxicity, despite they are
within the ranges. Presence of microves in the drinking water is an alarming situation for the
health authorities. Necessary measures especially biodegradation and bioremediation
strategies are needed to be adopted for the treatment of effluents before discharge in the river
in order to secure the aquatic as well as human life.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge the technical support of Dr. Muhammad Jamil (Depertments of Soil and
Environmental Sciences Faculty of Agriculture Gomal University D.I.khan, Muhammad
Atiq Alazai (Agriculture Research Institute Rata Kulachi, D.I.Khan).

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