A Sustainable Approach to Treat Effluents from Sea Food Processing Industries Near Kappithodu, Alappuzha(Dist), Kerala, India

Abstract

Kaappithodu is a small stream which flows for a distance of 14kms through Alappuzha Municipality, in Kerala. The stream drains into Pookaithayar, a tributary of River Pamba and is severely polluted due to receipt of effluent discharges from prawn/fish peeling centres, hospitals, solid waste dumps from hotels and the toilet waste from the households and educational institutions. The present study was to identify the sources of pollution in Kappithodu and to explore the suitability of a sustainable technology to treat the effluents especially from sea food processing industries. A laboratory set up including a hybrid reactor was done for the study. The advantages of UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) unit followed by a phytoremediation system (Vetiver zirzanoids) were hence adopted. It was found that an overall efficiency of BOD removal by 97.5%, COD by 98%,nitrate by 97.5% and phosphate by 88.9% was achieved.