Physicochemical Assessment of Industrial Wastewater Discharges in Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Peshawar, Pakistan: An Emerging Pollution Predicament

Abstract

Industrial wastewater is a major contributor to environmental degradation, posing significant risks to water resources, aquatic ecosystems, and public health. This study conducted a comprehensive physico-chemical analysis of effluent discharges from the Hayatabad Industrial Estate (HIE) in Peshawar, Pakistan, to assess compliance with Pakistan's National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Ten wastewater samples were collected from key industrial discharge points and analyzed for critical parameters, including pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), total hardness, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). The results revealed severe contamination, with the majority of parameters exceeding NEQS permissible limits. Notably, mean concentrations of key pollutants were significantly elevated: chloride (1673 mg/L vs. 1000 mg/L NEQS), BOD (181 mg/L vs. 80 mg/L NEQS), and TSS (246 mg/L vs. 150 mg/L NEQS). The findings conclusively demonstrate that the untreated and partially treated effluents from HIE constitute a serious pollution threat, endangering the ecological health of the Kabul River and the productivity of adjacent agricultural lands. This study underscores the urgent necessity for the installation and operation of centralized effluent treatment plants, coupled with stringent regulatory oversight and enforcement, to curb ongoing environmental damage.

Keywords: Industrial Effluent, Water Pollution, Physico-Chemical Parameters, NEQS, Hayatabad, Wastewater Treatment.