Characteristics of Effluents from Industrial, Hospital, Aquacultural and Domestic Wastewater Treatment in Tien Giang Province, Vietnam

Abstract

This study evaluates the quality of wastewater effluent collected from
domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, medical wastewater,
and aquaculture wastewater in Tien Giang province, Vietnam. The
quality of domestic wastewater effluent is assessed using Vietnamese
standard QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT while the effluent quality of
industrial, medical and aquaculture wastewater is assessed using
QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT. The effluent quality indicators of pH, temp,
BOD, COD, TSS, N-NH4
+
, N-NO3
-
, P-PO4
3-
, TN, TP, S2-
, CN-
, As,
Hg, Ni, Pb, Phenol, Oil & grease, Coliform, Shigella, Salmonella,
Vibriocholerae were used in the assessment. The results showed that
TSS, N-NH4
+
, TP, Coliform in industrial wastewater effluent; NNH4
+
in medical wastewater effluent; TSS and coliform in
aquaculture wastewater effluent; TSS, N-NH4
+ and coliform in
domestic wastewater effluent at some locations exceeded the
allowable limits. The effluent quality of industrial, medical,
aquaculture and domestic wastewater was seasonally fluctuated.
COD, BOD, TSS in industrial wastewater in the rainy season were
higher than those in the dry season, while BOD and COD in medical
wastewater, livestock wastewater and domestic wastewater in the
dry season were higher than those in the rainy season. In all types of
wastewater effluent, the concentration of nutrients in the rainy
season were lower than those in the dry season. The effluent quality
indicators of heavy metals, sulfide, cyanide and groups of
pathogenic microorganisms were not detected in wastewater
effluents. Oil and grease were detected only at the AW2 site during
the dry season. The results showed that there is a need for
technological solutions to improve the thorough treatment of TSS,
N-NH4
+
, TP, coliform in wastewater to reduce risks to the natural
environment and human health.