DETERMINING THE EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES ON URBAN WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS AND THE PLANT OPERATION, INSPECTION OF INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES

Abstract

Industrial waste-waters should be discharged into the sewer system at the place of origin, following a pre-treatment process. Thus, it could be ensured that the wastewater discharge into the sewer system is below the limit thresholds. It is of utmost importance that the industries fulfill their legal responsibility for pre-treatment, as this helps in secondary treatment efficiency. In order to ensure this, the operation of and discharge of existing treatment plants should be inspected on a regular basis. In this study, the 42 Evler Wastewater Treatment Plant (WIT) under the General Directorate of Kocaeli Water,Sewerage Administration (ISU) was characterized, and the industrial discharges effects on the general wastewater features and their impact to general operation were examined. It was concluded that the industries did not observe discharge limits as specified in the Regulations for Wastewater Discharge into Sewage (AKDY). It was also be noted that, if the regulations were observed, the sludge production, oxygen demand, and energy costs could be reduced by 63, 72, and 72%, respectively. It was observed that the yeast industry and domestic wastewaters are two of the largest sources of impact on this wastewater treatment plant. All industries located in this area are examined by ISU inspection units, and the results obtained from the analyses of the samples collected during these inspections, were not compatible with the urban WIT results; the only explanation for this was illegal discharge. At the end of this study, it was suggested that the industrial inspections should be conducted by more technological methods and more conventional methods should be abandoned.