CHAPTER 4: WATER POLLUTION CONTROL

There are two approaches.

1) Receiving Water Standards

Depending on the beneficial use of a river, standards are set for the quality of the surface
water;for example, grade one standard i.e.
i. DO > 4.0 mg/l
ii. Toxic compounds less than WHO standards for drinking water
iii. No effects on fisheries

The law states that no discharge shall create conditions that violate set standards. Where
there are a series of effluent discharges, the one downstream will be forced to discharge
less. The approach is therefore not fair to everyone.

2) Effluent Standards
These stipulates the quality of the effluent which can be discharged into a particular
receiving water body taking into account the self-purification capacity and beneficial use of
the water.
As an example, discharge from sewage works treating sewage should be
BOD < 20 mg/L
SS < 30 mg/L (Suspended solids)
These standards are commonly referred to as 20/30 standards
The basic information that are necessary to set standards include
i. Amount of dilution available
ii. Subsequent downstream use of water
iii. Self-purification of the receiving stream

Effluent Standards for Discharge into Natural Water Courses(The Environmental

Management & Co-ordination Water Quality Regulations,2006)

Parameter Maximum allowable (Limit)

pH 6.5-8.5
BOD (5days at 200c) not to exceed 30mg/l
COD not to exceed 50mg/l
Temperature not to exceed oc ±3 of ambient temperature of the
water body
Total Coliform Count /100ml 1000
E.coli (Counts/100ml) Nil
Colour 15 Hazen units (H.U.)
Total dissolved solids 1200mg/l
Total suspended solids 30mg/l
Oil and Grease (mg/l)- where conventional treatment Nil

4.1
shall be used
Ammonia, ammonium compounds, NO3, compounds 100mg/l
and NO2 compound (Sum total of ammonia –N times 4
plus –N- and Nitrite-N)
Arsenic 0.02mg/l
Arsenic and its compounds 0.1mg/l
Benzene 0.1mg/l
Boron 1.0mg/l
Boron and its compound-non marine 30mg/l
Mercury (mg/l) 0.05
Cadmium not to exceed 0.01 mg/l
Cadmium and its compound 0. 02 mg/l
Carbon tetrachloride 0. 1 mg/l
Lead 0.01mg/l
Lead and its compound 0.1mg/l
Chromium VI 0.05 mg/l
Cis-1,2-dichloro ethylene 0.4 mg/l
Copper 1.0 mg/l
Zinc 0.5 mg/l
Dichloromethene 0.2 mg/l
Dissolved iron 10 mg/l
Dissolved manganese 10 mg/l
Fluoride 1.5mg/l
Fluoride& its compound (Marine and non marine) 8mg/l
Selenium 0.01 mg/l
Selenium and its compound 0. 1 mg/l
n-Hexane extracts (animal and vegetable fats) 30 mg/l
n-Hexane extracts (mineral oil) 5 mg/l
Nickel 3.0 mg/l
Oil and Grease 5 mg/l
Nitrate 20 mg/l
Phosphates 30 mg/l
Cyanide 2 mg/l
Sulphide 0.1mg/l
Hexavalent chromium VI compounds 0.5mg/l
Phenols 0.001mg/l
Simazine 0.03mg/l
Detergents nil
Tetrachloroethylene 0.1mg/l
Thiobencarb 0.1mg/l
Thiram 0.06mg/l
Total Cyanogen Nd
Mercury 0.005
Trichloroethylene 0.3mg/l
Whole effluent toxicity Nil
Total Phosphorous 2mg/l
Total Nitrogen 2mg/l

Note:- The standard adopted for Coliform count is that of ministry of water and irrigation
since that of 30m/100ml suggested by EMCA is not achievable.

4.2
Parameter Standard
pH 6.0-9.0
BOD (5days at 200c) not to exceed 500mg/l
COD not to exceed 1000mg/l
Temperature not to exceed 0c 20-35
Oil and Grease (mg/l)- where conventional 5
treatment shall be used
Ammonia Nitrogen (mg/l) not to exceed 20
Substance with an obnoxious smell Shall not be discharged into the sewers
Arsenic (mg/l) 0.02
Mercury (mg/l) 0.05
Cadmium not to exceed 0.5 mg/l
Lead 1.0mg/l
Chromium (Total) 2.0 mg/l
Copper 1.0 mg/l
Zinc 5.0 mg/l
Selenium 3.0 mg/l
Nickel 3.0 mg/l
Nitrate 20 mg/l
Phosphates 30 mg/l
Cyanide 2 mg/l
Sulphide 2mg/l
Phenols 10mg/l
Detergents 15mg/l
Colour Less than 40 Hazen Unit
Alkyl Mercury Not Detectable
Free and Saline Ammonia as N 4.0mg/l
Calcium Carbide Nil
Chloroform Nil
Inflammable solvents Nil
Radioactive residues Nil
Degreasing solvents of mono-di- Nil
trichloroethylene type

4.3