Artisanal tannery wastewater: quantity and characteristics
Miriam Appiah-Brempong1, Helen Michelle Korkor Essandoh1, Nana Yaw Asiedu2
1Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Heliyon
|January 13, 2022
Summary
Artisanal tannery wastewater in Ghana is highly toxic, exceeding environmental safety limits for numerous pollutants. Urgent treatment is needed to prevent adverse public and environmental health impacts from its discharge.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Wastewater Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Tannery wastewater is recognized as a significant industrial pollutant.
- Limited data exists on the specific characteristics of wastewater from artisanal tanneries.
- Artisanal tanneries often lack adequate wastewater treatment facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess water consumption and wastewater generation rates in an artisanal tannery in Ghana.
- To characterize the physicochemical and microbiological properties of tannery wastewater.
- To compare wastewater characteristics against national and international environmental guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Quantified water usage and wastewater volumes per process unit.
- Analyzed physicochemical parameters including COD, BOD, ammonia, color, conductivity, solids, and ions.
- Assessed microbiological content, including total coliforms, E. coli, and helminth eggs.
Main Results:
- Wastewater exhibited extremely high levels of chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and turbidity.
- Concentrations of chlorides, sodium, sulfates, calcium, and aluminum ions significantly exceeded Ghana EPA guidelines.
- High counts of total coliforms and five species of helminth eggs were detected, posing risks for irrigation and public health.
Conclusions:
- Artisanal tannery wastewater in Ghana is characterized by severe pollution loads.
- Current discharge practices pose substantial risks to environmental and public health.
- Implementation of effective wastewater treatment technologies is crucial before discharge.
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