QUALITY PARAMETERS OF DAIRY WASTEWATER IN THE MUREŞ COUNTY, ROMANIA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the main quality indicators of wastewater in a dairy factory located in Mureş County, with a water treatment plant built recently. The wastewater samples were tested for extractable matter, total suspended matter, fixed residue, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and pH values. The results indicated that pollution levels of wastewater samples tested were found high. This means that the method of treatment does not have the necessary effectiveness that can cause high load of effluent in NH4+, total suspended solids, Chemical Oxygen Demand - COD-Cr, Biochemical Oxygen Demand - BOD5, pH for dairy wastewater from the production of cheese and butter. To maintain quality indicators of effluents discharged, in the limits established by the Romanian regulations in force, to avoid the environmental pollution, appropriate treatment method is required.

Keywords

• butter
• cheeses
• fresh dairy products
• environment
• pollution