POLLUTION PROBLEMS AND AN ENGINEERING APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background to the Study

Water is life and the quality and adequacy of water is an essential measure of the quality of life or rather the existence of life. Consequently water quality management is (or should be) one of the most important activities of mankind, so as to protect and save human life. The management of water quality, or the protection of the aquatic ecosystem in a broader sense, means the control of pollution. Water pollution originates from point and non-point (diffuse) sources and is mostly anthropogenic activities.

A crucial aspect in the series of complex activities of planning and implementing water pollution control actions is the quantitative determination and description of the relationship between human activities and the state of the aquatic system. These activities are essential for the modelling of aquatic systems (hydrological, hydrodynamics, hydraulic, and water quality modelling) (Jolankai, 1997).

Planning and management activities require the assessment of hydraulic and water quality conditions often beyond the range of observed field data. In this context, both hydraulic and water quality models need be made that are general enough to (1) describe observed conditions and (2) predict planning scenarios that may be substantially different from observed conditions. In stream water pollution control the main objective is to assess if the system complies with the maximum pollutant release allowed from point and non-point source pollution, so that pollutant levels in the receiving streams meet water quality standards. Water quality models for in – stream water pollution control have been calibrated and verified with data collected prior to model development during surveys designed to check basin wide water quality for regulatory compliance (Radwan et al, 2003).

1.2    Statement of the Problem

A lot of environmental degradation is generated during the planning, developmental stage including construction and final occupation of engineering projects.

The problems include deforestation, land and water pollution, and contamination of ground water, poor environmental sanitation, poorly planned road network, air and noise pollution, destruction of natural food chain, toxicity and radioactivity within the eco-system, etc. Others are:

–        Rapidly increasing generation of industrial effluents and discharge into the available water courses

–        Increasing difficulty of industries to comply and meet regional and national water quality standards and limits

–        Increasing occurrence of water- borne diseases as a result of pollutions from indiscriminate industrial effluents discharge into water courses

–        Deterioration of water quality standards and its effects on water supply, aquatic ecosystems and public health due to river pollution in populated areas

–        Service delivery standards: Many existing national environmental standards and environmental management practices are based on those developed in industrialized countries, under conditions totally different from those existing in developing countries.

These standards are often inappropriate, even where they are in theory appropriate they often cannot be applied due to high cost.

1.3    Aims of the Research

The aims of this research include the:

i.            Determination of the dilution power and self- recovery ability of a purposively selected river in Ado-Odo/Otta District after receiving industrial effluents, and

ii.             Assessment of the industrial waste management capability of the treatment facilities of selected industries.

1.4      Specific Objectives of the Study

The specific objectives of this study are to:

1.      Characterize selected industrial effluents and determine their impacts on a purposively selected receiving water courses;

2.      Use an existing model to determine the ability of the selected receiving stream to recover from the environmental impacts of the industrial activities, and

3.      Determine the treatability of the effluents and recommend an engineering solution to the impacts.

1.5    Justification for the Research

Existing literature showed that there has been no detailed scientific and engineering study of industrial impact on the rivers in Ado-Odo/Otta Industrial Zones. Presently there exists a global focus on sustainable consumption and production activities by industries. There is the need therefore to determine conformity by the industries with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) of Nigeria other national and international regulations.

The findings of this work will be useful to Engineers in the design and management of industrial wastes.

1.6      Scope of the Study

i.            The scope of this study was limited to a field survey of selected industries which discharges industrial effluents into River Atuwara.

ii.             Laboratory scale modelling of the pollution impacts, using QUAL2K developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), to determine the hydrodynamics and water quality of the receiving river; and

iii.             Laboratory bench – scale treatability study and analysis of the identified pollutants of concerns in the effluents from the selected industries

1.7      Delimitation of the Study

The study covered River Atuwara in Otta Municipal Districts. The major polluting industries in the industrial layouts will be determined in the three major industrial areas in Otta viz: Idiroko road, Ijoko road and Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. A model to simulate one-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality parameters of the receiving streams will be examined.

1.8      Operational Definition of Terms

Industrial pollution: is a very broad category of pollution resulting from manufacturing activities. Industrial pollution can be in the form of air pollution, water pollution or solid and hazardous wastes.

Industrial wastes: industrial and radioactive waste from chemical plants and nuclear power plants includes potentially dangerous substances such as petro-chloro-benzene (PCBs), tributylin (TBT), organo-chlorides, heavy metals (HMs), acidic wastes, radioactive caesium and plutonium 239,(Falconer ,1990).

Industrial effluent: These are partially treated or untreated wastewater discharges from industries. It is normally unacceptable to discharge untreated industrial wastewater direct to rivers, land or disposal down mineshafts wells etc. Gaseous discharges from stacks are also part of industrial effluent.

Industrial wastewater management: This is the process that ensures the minimization of wastewater production for recovery and reuse. The recovery and reuse of wastewater in an economic way enable the cost of wastewater treatment to be minimized. The options for the industrialist are: (1) to treat or partially treat at source within the site;(2) treat at a centralized works effluents plant within the industrial complex or (3) discharge the wastewater to a sewer and pay for off site treatment.

Water quality: a term used to describe the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose.

Mathematical model: Mathematical models are useful instruments in the survey of computer systems. It is not possible to survey the many components and their reactions in an ecological system without the use of mathematical models as synthesis tool. Mathematical models can be used to reveal dynamic system properties. They revealed gaps in knowledge on ecological systems and can therefore be used to set up research priorities as an idealized formulation that represents the response of a physical system to external stimuli.

This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research