Physico-Chemical Monitoring of Industrial Wastewater Quality: Case of Aspindale Oil Plant — National Foods Limited: Zimbabwe

4. Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe

Abstract: Indiscriminate discharge of raw wastewater resulted in pollution of aquatic environments and loss of biodiversity along Mukuvisi Stream. The aim of this research was to monitor wastewater quality parameters against ZINWA Effluent Standards after incorporation of a chemical treatment process into the existing physical treatment process at National Foods. The methodology was divided into Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Quality Analysis. Alum, Alsa Floc and Lime were used for treatment and standard methods for analysis. One Sample T-tests were done in SPSS. Most results showed a positive kurtosis meaning that they were close to ZINWA effluent standards. Parameters under investigation varied significantly (p < 0.05) with ZINWA effluent standards. The mean concentrations in mg/L were found as TDS: 906, chlorides: 271, FOG: 2.39, phosphates: 0.94 and pH of 6.9 at 21.6°C which were below maximum permissible limits. It was recommended that treated wastewater be used for general cleaning, coal dust suppression and watering lawns.