Evaluation of the performance of the existing treatment plant at Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI)

Abstract

The main contributors to the surface and ground water pollution are the by - products of various industries such as textile, metal, dying chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, cement, petrochemical, energy and power, leather, sugar processing, construction, steel, engineering, food processing, mining, beverages and others. This study is to evaluate the performance of the existing wastewater treatment plant at Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI). This is done by characterizing effluent from UIRI, assessing the performance of the existing effluent treatment and suggesting remedial measures to improve when necessary. The methods and materials used in this study included sampling, laboratory analysis and data analysis using Excel. The results’ analysis and discussion section is about the characterization of the effluent from UIRI, performance of the WWTP at UIRI and the removal efficiency of the WWTP. The wastewater at the inlet to the WWTP at UIRI is of diverse composition including the following parameters with their corresponding mean values pH 7.02, temperature 20.8 ˚C, color 420 PtCo, turbidity 157 NTU, TDS 211 mg/l, TSS 143 mg/l, COD 86.8 mg/l, BOD 69.9 mg/l. nitrates 1.2, sulphates 8.2 mg/l, ammonia 9 mg/l, phosphates 2.09 mg/l, Fats, Oils and Grease 5.524 mg/l. The removal efficiency for the different parameters basing on the mean values were color 31%, turbidity 54%, TDS 18%, TSS 13%, COD 18%, BOD 19%, nitrates 31%, sulphates 71%, ammonia 52%, phosphates 22%, Fats, Oils and Grease 40%. WWTP plant at UIRI was found to be less efficient and less effective.