Effect of Car Wash Effluents on the Quality of the Receiving Stream

Abstract

Abstract: Car wash effluents were analyzed. The receiving stream water was also analyzed at some points (before the point of discharge and after the point of discharge). The result indicated that the effluents lowered the quality of the receiving stream water, making most of the parameters determined to be on the high side in comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. The effluents were alkaline in nature and this led to the precipitation of heavy metals. The total dissolved solids were found to be in high range, 8.1 and 118.6 mg LG1. The levels of heavy metals were also high. For example, iron has a value of between 3.21 and 3.27 mg LG1, which is above the recommended permissible levels for drinking water. Chromium was found to be between 0.20 and 0.27 mg LG1. The Dissolved Oxygen ranges from 1.41- 4.30 mg LG1, while Biochemical Oxygen Demands (BOD) was between 2.18 mg LG1 for Upstream (US) and 4.70 mg LG1 at the point of the discharge (POD). Chemical Oxygen Demands (COD) was between 4.0 and 5.20 mg LG1 for Downstream (DS) and point of discharge, respectively. Some treatments measures were recommended to be carried out on the effluents to make the receiving stream water safe for people living at the downstream end.