18. Temporal variations in the physicochemical characterization of Malakandher River waste water
Main Article Content
Abstract
Waste water of Malakandher River was evaluated to assess its suitability for irrigation. Samples from Malakandher River were collected and analyzed for pH, temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), heavy metals chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb). Result showed that there were significant variations among all of the samples of waste water. Temperature varied from (17.95 to 27.82oC), pH (5.55 to 7.02 molL-1), EC (0.72 to 0.95 dSm-1) and Cr (0.12 to 0.3 mgL-1). Mean values of these parameters were within the acceptable limits of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Similarly total suspended solids (TSS) varied from 75 to 725mgL-1, biological oxygen demand (BOD) 80 to 290 mgL-1and concentration of heavy metal lead (Pb) 0.42 to 1.32mgL-1and their mean values were above the standards value of NEQS. All industries discharge their effluents without pretreatment and farmer apply this waste water to field directly. Thus it can be concluded if this water is discharged to agricultural fields may cause phytotoxicity and health issues. If the crops are receiving such water is utilized by human beings or animals.
Keywords: BOD; EC; Heavy metals; pH; Waste wate