Characteristics of Effluent from Medical Wastewater Treatment: A Case Study in Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Abstract

The study evaluates the current status of wastewater quality after
treatment at major medical facilities in Vietnamese Mekong Delta
province. Medical wastewater samples were collected at eight
locations (designated from YT1 to YT8) including two general
hospitals and six district health centers during the period from
March to May 2020. The quality of effluents is evaluated based on
the National Technical Regulations on quality of medical
wastewater into water used for domestic purposes (QCVN
28:2010/BTMNT, Column A). The effluent parameters including
pH, total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate (PO4
3-
),
nitrate (NO3
-
), ammonium (NH4
+
), sulfide (S2-
) and coliform were
used for the assessment. The results showed pH, TSS, BOD, COD,
NO3
- and coliform did not pass the standard limits. pH was high at
YT8, TSS was high at YT1. BOD and COD were high at YT4 while
NO3
- was high at YT1, YT2, YT3 and YT5. Density of coliform was
always high in the effluents. The effluent at YT1 was at the highest
pollution level while that of YT8 met most of the discharge
requirements, except for pH. The study found that effluents from
medical wastewater treatments are one of the key sources of
surface water pollution. Appropriate actions are urgently needed
to improve efficiency of the medical wastewater treatment systems
since it currently works inefficiently.