THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

QCVN 12:2008/BTNMT

National Technical Regulation on

the effluent of pulp and paper mills
(This English version is for reference only)

Hanoi- 2008
QCVN 12:2008/BTNMT

Foreword

QCVN 12:2008/BTNMT was prepared by the Committee of National

Technical Regulations on Water quality, submitted by the General
Department of Environment and the Legal Department and issued under
the Decision No. 16/2008/QD-BTNMT of December 31st, 2008 by the
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

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QCVN 12:2008/BTNMT

National Technical Regulation on the effluent of pulp and paper mills

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope

This regulation stipulates the maximum allowable values of pollution parameters of pulp and paper
mill effluent when discharging into the environment.

1.2. Subjects of application

This regulation applies to organizations and individuals related to the operation of discharging pulp
and paper industrial wastewater into the environment.

1.3. Definition of terms

In this regulation, the following terms are construed as follows:

1.3.1. Pulp and paper industrial wastewater is the solution discharged from factories,
establishments that use technological processes to produce pulp and paper products.

1.3.2. Discharge/capacity ratio Kq of the wastewater receiving sources is the ratio that takes into
account the dilution capacity of the wastewater receiving sources in correspondence to the flow discharge of
rivers, streams, flute, small irrigation canal; canals, channel; and the capacity of lakes, ponds, lagoons.

1.3.3. Coefficient of the flow discharge of the waste sources Kf is the coefficient that takes into
account the total waste amount of the pulp and paper mills, in correspondence with the capacity of waste
water when discharging into the wastewater receiving sources.

1.3.4. Wastewater receiving sources is the surface water sources or the coastal waters with specific
intended uses, where pupl and paper mills effluent would be discharged into

1.4. Normative references:

- TCVN 7732 : 2007 – Water quality. Effluent standards for pulp and paper mills.

- TCVN 5945 : 2005 - Industrial waste water. Discharge standards

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2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

2.1. Maximum allowable values of the pollution parameters on the effluent of pulp and paper mill.

Maximum allowable values of the pollution parameters on the effluent of pulp and paper mills when
discharging into the wastewater receiving sources shall not exceed the value C max which shall be calculated
as follow:

C max = C x K q x K f

Where:

C max is the maximum allowable level of pollution parameter on pulp and paper mill effluent when
discharging into wastewater receiving sources, measured in miligrams per liter of wastewater (mg/l);

C is the level of pollution parameter specified in section 2.2.

K q is the flow discharge/ capacity ratio of the wastewater receiving sources specified in section 2.3.

K f is coefficient of the flow discharge of the waste source specified in section 2.4.

The formula for the calculation of the maximum allowable concentration on wastewater shall not be
applicable for the parameter pH.

2.2. Value C of pollution parameters as a basis for the calculation of the maximum allowable
value

C value of the pollution parameters as a basis for calculating the maximum allowable value C max in
the effluent of pulp and paper mill when discharging into the wastewater receiving sources is specified in
table 1.

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Table 1: The value of the pollution parameters as a basis for calculating the maximum
allowable value

C value

No. Parameter Unit A B

Establishments Establishments
produce only produce pulp
paper (B2)

(B1)

1 pH 6-9 5.5 - 9 5.5 - 9

2 BOD5 at 20 OC mg/l 30 50 100

3 New
mg/l 50 150 200
establishments
COD
Operative
mg/l 80 200 300
establishments

4 Total suspended solids

mg/l 50 100 100
(TSS)

5 New
Pt-Co 20 50 100
Colour establishments
level Operative
Pt-Co 50 100 150
establishments
Absorbable organic
6 mg/l 7.5 15 15
halogens (AOX)
Where:

- Column A specified the C values of the pollution parameters as a basis for calculating the maximum value
allowed in pulp and paper mill effluent discharged into water sources used for domestic water supply purposes; (with
the water quality of equal level with the ones specified in column A1 and A2 of National technical regulation on
surface water quality)

- Column B specifies C values of the parameters as a basis for calculating the maximum allowable value in the
effluent of facilities that produce only paper (no pulp) or pulp producing facilities, facilities for the production of pulp

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and paper when discharging into the water sources that are not used for domestic water supply (with the water quality
of equal level in comparison with the ones specified in column B1 and B2 of national technical regulations on the
quality of surface water quality or coastal water ).

- For COD parameters and colour level, facilities that are on active before the effective date of this regulation
shall apply a higher value till the end of 31/12/2014. From 01/01/2015, all pulp and paper producing facilities shall
apply the value specified for new facility.

In addition to 06 parameters specified in Table 1, depending on the requirements and purposes of

pollution control, the value C of the other pollution parameters shall be applied as prescribed in column A
or column B of Table 1 of TCVN 5945:2005 - Water quality - Industrial waste water - Discharge standards.

2.3. Coefficient of wastewater receiving source Kq

2.3.1. Coefficient Kq in correlation with the stream flow of river, stream, flute, small irrigation
canal; canal, channel shall be specified in table 2 below:

Table 2: Kq in correlation with the stream flow of river, stream, flute, small irrigation canal; canal,
channel

Stream flow of the wastewater receiving sources (Q)

Coefficient K q
3
Unit: cubic meter/second (m /s)

Q ≤ 50 0.9

50 < Q ≤ 200 1

200 < Q ≤ 1000 1.1

Q > 1000 1.2

Q is calculated by the stream flow average value of the wastewater receiving sources in the 03 driest
months in 03 continuous years (the data of Hydrometeorology agency).

Where the wastewater receiving source has no data on the stream flow of river, stream, flute, small
irrigation canal; canal, channel, the value Kq = 0.9 shall be applied; or the Natural Resources and
Environment Office shall appoint legal units to measure the average capacity in the 03 driest months in a
year in order to determine the value of the coefficient Kq

2.3.2. Coefficient Kq in correlation with the bulk of wastewater receiving sources which are lakes,
ponds, marshes are defined in Table 3 below:

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Table 3: Coefficient Kq in correlation with the bulk of wastewater receiving sources

Bulk of wastewater receiving sources (V)

Coefficient K q
3
Unit: Cubic meter (m )

V ≤ 10 x 106 0.6

10 x 106 < V ≤ 100 x 106 0.8

V > 100 x 106 1.0

V is calculated by the average value of the bulk of lakes, ponds, marshes receive wastewater in the
03 driest months in 03 continuous years (the data of Hydrometeorology agency). Where the wastewater
receiving source has no data on the pressure volume of lakes, ponds, marshes, the value K q = 0.6 shall be

applied; or the Natural Resources and Environment Office shall appoint legal units to measure the average
capacity in the 03 driest months in a year in order to determine the value of the coefficient K q

2.3.3. In the case of coastal waters that are not used for the purposes of aquatic life protection,
sports or underwater entertainments, the value K q =1.3 shall be applied.

In the case of coastal waters used for the purposes of aquatic life protection, sports and underwater
entertainments, the value K q = 1 shall be applied.

2.3. Coefficient of the capacity of wastewater discharge source Kf

Capacity coefficient K f of the wastewater discharge source is defined in Table 4 below:

Table 4: Coefficient K f in correspondence with wastewater capacity.

Discharge source capacity (F)

Coefficient Kf
3
Unit: cubic meter/night and day(m /24h)

F ≤ 50 1.2

50 < F ≤ 500 1.1

500 < F ≤ 5,000 1.0

F > 5,000 0.9

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3. DETERMINATION METHODS

Methods for the determination of pollution parameters in pulp and paper mill effluent shall be in
accordance with the instructions set out in National Standards or equivalent analysis standards of
International Organizations:

- TCVN 6492 : 1999 – Water quality. Determination of pH;

- TCVN 6001 : 1995 (ISO 5815 : 1989) Water quality. Determination of biochemical oxygen demand after
5 days (BOD 5 ). Dilution and seeding method;

- TCVN 6491 : 1999 (ISO 6060 : 1989) Water quality. Determination of the chemical oxygen demand
(COD);

- TCVN 6625 : 2000 (ISO 11923 : 1997) Water quality. Determination suspended solids by filtration
through glass-fibre filters;

- TCVN 4558 : 1988 Waste water. Determination of colour and smell;

- TCVN 6493 : 1999 (ISO 9562:1989) Water quality. Determination of absorbable organically bound
halogens (AOX);

Methods for the determination of other parameters shall be in accordance with current national
standards or equivalent analysing methods of International Organizations.

4. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Organizations and individuals related to the operation or investment plans have the obligation to
comply with the provisions of this regulation.

State-level management agency on environment shall have the responsibility to guide, inspect and
supervise the implementation of this regulation.

Where national standards referred to in this regulation are amended, supplemented or replaced, the
new standards shall be applied.