Car wash wastewater characterization and effect on surface water quality: a case study of car washing bays sited on the banks of streams in Kumasi
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Date
2007-08-16
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Abstract
A study to assess the activities of some commercial car washing bays sited along the banks of streams in Kumasi was carried out between November 2006 and June 2007. Information was gathered on wash processes, chemical use, water use, wastewater treatment, wastewater discharge and environmental awareness of operators through a questionnaire interview of 20 carwash facilities. All the 20 carwash facilities visited discharged their wastewater into the nearby stream without treatment. Two facilities which are located in Daban and Kyirepatre were selected for water quality analysis. Wastewater and stream water from these two facilities were analysed for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total dissolved Solids (TDS), Oil and Grease, Dissolved Phosphate, Heavy Metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe), Turbidity and pH for a period of six months. The study revealed that except for pH, wastewater generated at the two facilities contained high levels of contaminants which exceeded EPA effluent limit for discharge to watercourse. Analysis of the Daban stream indicated increases in all contaminants loads 50m away after the carwash wastewater has joined the stream. In the Oda stream, only pH, turbidity and oil and grease levels were found to have increased 50m downstream. However, statistical analysis did not find any significant variation in contaminants concentrations before and after the carwash wastewater has joined the streams except for oil and grease. On the average oil and grease concentration changed from 6.4mg/l to 29.7mg/l in the Daban stream after wastewater has joined it. Heavy metals levels in both the Oda and Daban streams were within acceptable limits for crop irrigation and may not affect vegetable cultivation going on around the streams.
It is evident from the study that vehicle washing on the banks of streams contribute to pollution in the streams. Operators need to be encouraged to intercept carwash wastewater to reduce pollution of water bodies.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science (Environmental Science), 2007