ABSTRACT
The daily and seasonal variations in the nature and quantity of the wastewater from the confectionery sector have a negative impact on the process of disposal. The candy business produces biologically degradable effluent. High levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are its defining characteristics. The physical-chemical characteristics, heavy metal contents, and microbiological load of the effluent sample from OK Sweets - OLAM firm were assessed using the APHA standard method for water sample analysis. The results were then compared to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency Ministry of Environment, 1991 (FEPA), and the National Environmental Standard Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) limits which showed that most of the results for effluent after treatment and at the point of discharge were within the standard limits, with the exception of Total dissolved solids, Total suspended solids, Alkalinity, Nitrate, Chloride, Phosphorus, Oil and grease, Total coliform count, Iron, BOD, COD with values above the set limits. The physico-chemical evaluation showed that temperature of effluent was (25.02 °C), turbidity (1 NTU), pH (6.2), total dissolved solids (1708.00 mg/L), total suspended solids (6252 mg/L), total hardness (CaCO3) (1141.30), oil and grease (5.60 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (4.76 mg/L), COD (8900 mg/L), BOD (181.80 mg/L), free chlorine (0.25 mg/L), phosphate (9.418 mg/L), nitrate (387.60 mg/L). Heavy metals concentrations in (mL) were magnesium (25.706), zinc (<0.0010), lead (<0.0100), copper (0.0100), manganese (0.05640), nicke l(0.0064), cadmium (<0.0020). The total plate count value was (238 cfu /100 mL), while total coliform count value (>1600 MPN/ 100 mL). The results of the analysis show that there is a high possibility of land and water pollution by the confectionery effluent. Ok Sweets - OLAM Confectionery Company is highly likely to pollute the environment through the release of improperly treated wastewater into water bodies or soil, which could cause crop death or reduced crop yield, contaminate drinking water supplies, or accumulate and spread toxic chemicals that could further jeopardize ecosystems and endanger public health.
