Browsing by Author "Gerson, Eline"

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    Assessment of Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Plants and Their Influence on The Seasonal Performance of the Kalobe Waste Stabilization Ponds in Mbeya City, Tanzania
    (Mbeya University of Science and Technology, 2025-12-03) Gerson, Eline
    This study assessed the effectiveness of industrial wastewater pretreatment plants and evaluated their impact on the performance of the Kalobe Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) in Mbeya City. The investigation focused on three major industries—Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL), Coca-Cola Kwanza, and Pepsi SBC—whose discharges form a substantial portion of the influent entering the WSP. Weekly sampling was conducted from March to July, covering both wet and dry seasons, and water quality parameters including BOD, COD, TSS, nitrate, phosphate, pH, and flow were analyzed using standard laboratory methods. The results revealed that industrial effluent significantly influences the loading and performance of the Kalobe WSP. TBL exhibited the highest organic loads, particularly COD and BOD, while Coca-Cola showed elevated phosphate concentrations linked to chemical usage in production. Seasonal variation was also evident; wet-season inflows caused hydraulic surges that reduced hydraulic retention time and lowered pollutant removal efficiency. Removal efficiencies for COD and phosphate remained below Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) limits, indicating persistent treatment challenges. Variations in pollutant loads were primarily attributed to measurable factors such as fluctuations in chemical dosing efficiency, variations in pretreatment system performance, and increased hydraulic loading during periods of stormwater infiltration. The study concludes that the underperformance of Kalobe WSP is driven by high industrial loads, inadequate pretreatment efficiency, sludge accumulation, and wet-season hydraulic stress. Strengthening industrial source control, enforcing national discharge standards, and upgrading the WSP with supplementary treatment units such as constructed wetlands or chemical precipitation systems are essential. The quantitative findings, based solely on measured influent and effluent characteristics, provide a clear assessment of operational performance and support evidence-based improvement strategies for wastewater management in Mbeya City.