Assessment of Industrial Wastewater Discharged into River Nile by Assalaya Sugar Factory—Solution & Strategies

Pollution of drinking water in many developing countries causes various diseases, especially epidemics. The Nile River is the primary drinking water source for most of the population of Sudan. This paper determined the pollution load exerted by the Assalaya sugar factory on the River Nile, and the main characteristics of the wastewater were assessed for pollution control. Wastewater samples were collected in plastic containers with labels. Systematic wastewater sampling was done at selected points along the drainage channel at 20, 50, and 80 meters, respectively. The samples were collected from the channel around midday during the dry and wet seasons for eight months, from September 2022 to April 2023. The samples were taken to the laboratory in Sudan, and 216 tests were conducted. Samples were analyzed according to the American Public Health Association (APHA 2005) method. The parameters analyzed were pH, COD, BOD, TSS, Pb, Cu, Zn, and EC. The study results were compared with the Sudanese national standards. The results of this study revealed that most of the pollutants were above the Sudanese industrial wastewater permissible limits. The mean for each parameter for the entire study period was as follows; pH (4.78 ± 0.19), BOD (1477.54 ± 271.21 mg/l), COD (2041.42 ± 190.94 mg/l), TSS (1226.04 ± 95.97 mg/l), Cu (0.46 ± 0.09 mg/l), Pb (0.56 ± 0.11 mg/l), Zn (1.39 ± 0.5 mg/l), and EC (622.92 ± 53.57 μS/cm). From these results, Zinc was found to be within the permissible limits. These findings raise concerns about the level of contamination of the Nile River. With the pollutants that exceed Sudanese limits, it is necessary for further research to be conducted to develop immediate intervention measures and management techniques to restore the river water quality. Under Sudanese guidelines for wastewater treatment facilities and the acceptable limits for treated wastewater, it is recommended that this Factory establishes a wastewater treatment facility utilizing conventional technology to treat its wastewater effluents.