Volume 18 - 2016

The result obtained from paired sample t-test revealed that the drainage canal water quality varies significantly between June 2012 and January 2013 except for Ca, Mg and SO₄.  According to analysed parameters, some of  the drainage canals were considered unsuitable for irrigation in june 2012. The water properties of all canals were observed as unsuitable to be used for drip irrigation in accordance to the LSI index. Classification of drainage water by USSL diagrams indicates a low sodium and high salinity hazard. 

Slaughterhouse wastewaters are characterized by a high organic content, mainly composed of proteins and fats. Therefore, these wastewaters should be treated efficiently prior to discharge into receiving bodies to avoid severe environmental pollution. This work aimed to characterize slaughterhouse wastewater generated in one province of Iran (Khuzestan), evaluating various suitability of biological treatment, assessing wastewater treatment plants performance and feasibility of wastewater reuse. Composite samples were collected from input and output of wastewater treatment plant during 6 months (spring and summer) and were analyzed for TSS, turbidity, temperature, conductivity, pH, COD, BOD₅, fat, total coliform and fecal coliform. Data analysis was done using Excel and SPSS software. The results showed that different quantities of wastewater were generated in any slaughterhouses of Ahvaz (120-600 l/d.sheep), Dezful (110-550 l/d.sheep), and Shushtar (139-694 l/d.sheep). Khuzestan slaughterhouses wastewater is classified by pollution severity as strong wastewater. The BOD₅/COD ranges from 0.3 to 0.5, which indicates applicability of biological treatment. Wastewater treatment plant of Ahvaz with anaerobic stabilization ponds and extended aeration activated sludge process has the highest removal efficiencies of pollutants. The result also indicated reuse of slaughterhouses effluent was not acceptable due to not comply with the standards of Iran. Finally, if safe use or disposal of these effluents is desired, blood capture from raw wastewater for reducing the amounts of organic loading must be implemented. Also, use of an appropriate treatment plant is noted.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of praestol, as a coagulant-aid, to improve coagulation-flocculation process in the removal of disperse red 60 from aqueous solutions. The effect of various parameters including coagulants dose (10-1000 mg l^-1), praestol dose (0-1000 mg l^-1), solution pH (3-11), initial dye concentration (100-500 mg l^-1), flocculation speed (30-60 rpm), flocculation time (15-30 min), settling time (5-60 min) and ionic strength (0-6 mg l^-1) was evaluated on the dye removal. The dye removal efficiency was substantially increased by using praestol in the concentration of 80 mg l^-1 and 400 mg l^-1 for coagulation with alum and polyaluminum chloride (PACl), respectively. The maximum dye removal by alum coupled with praestol (Al-P) and PACl coupled with praestol (PA-P) was found to be 97.8% and 98.7%, respectively that were occurred at pH 7. The results showed that the application of PA-P or Al-P can be effectively used to remove disperse red 60 (DR 60) in aqueous solutions.

The developing nations are worst affected as they are largely dependent on the local precipitation and soil moisture for their livelihood generations. The changing climate with extended summer, change in the rainfall pattern (intensity and duration) and variations of onset and departure of seasons are directly impacting the cultivation, status of natural vegetation, surface and sub-surface water, and other natural resources in a watershed area. Among the various efforts, watershed development approach, in which intervention is more site-specific in nature and can address the local requirements, is found to be more effective at micro levels. The vulnerability of climatic changes is mainly due to water stress, degradation of natural vegetations, degradation in the health and hygiene conditions, and poor information communication technology. The present article highlights these issues, impact of watershed development project in the Himalayan region and identifying the adaptation mechanism through watershed programs. A site specific action, research methods including primary and secondary data collections, GIS, remote sensing and statistical techniques were used. The study on the Jusho Bakro micro-watershed treated by TERI under the program DROP has been found to be effective in drawing possible adapting mechanism to withstand the changing climate and its severity on the natural resources and the livelihood of the community.