an assessment of environmental impact of sugar mills

An Assessment of Environmental Impact of Sugar Mills in District

Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.

RYK. AT A GLANCE Bhong Mosque ( Sadiqabad, distt. R.Y.Khan)

RYK. AT A GLANCE

Introduction The exponential increase in population compelled man

to increase industrialization. On one hand industrialization has solved the needs and

problems of human, but on the other hand it has created a gigantic problem of pollution.

In Pakistan, 77 Sugar mills constitute the second most important industry sharing 16% in agricultural economy.

Of these 38 are in punjab,32 in Sindh,6 in NWFP 1 in AK. Sugar mills use various chemicals during processing

which include Calcium Hydroxide, polyelectrolyte, limestone, phosphoric acid, sulphur dioxide, caustic soda, HCl and Lead sub acetate etc.

It is high time to keep an eye on our habitat and assess whether some sort of pollution is being caused by sugar industry or not.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The study was structured to ascertain the impact of growing Sugar Industry on natural resources including soil and water.

Materials and Methods Area of Study :

JDW Sugar Mills, N 28.41.40.4″ E 70.44.41.9″ Humza Sugar Mills, N 28.41.40.5″ E 70.44.42.1″ United Sugar Mills, N 28.34.39.9″ E 7019.18.7″ Ettehad Sugar Mills, N 28.15.01.1″ E 70.02.25.5″

JDW Sugar Mills

Sampling Sites Water Sampling

(site I, II, III, IV, V) Soil Sampling

(site I, II, III, IV, V)

Saim- Nullah near Humza Sugar Mills

Disposal pond of Ettehad Sugar Mills

Sampling Duration and Analysis

May 2007 to April 2008

S & W Testing Lab. Multan

S & W Testing Lab. R Y KHAN

RESULTS

1. WATER ANALYSIS PARAMETERS:

EC, Calcium, Magnesium, Available Na+ , Bicarbonates, Available Na+ , SAR, Chloride

2. SOIL ANALYSIS PARAMETERS:

EC, pH, SAR

JDW Sugar Mills: Water Analysis Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Range of EC at site III 311-1443 uS/cm Over all minimum value 311 uS/cm Over all maximum value 1443 uS/cm Permissible limit 1000 uS/cm

JDW Sugar Mills: Water Analysis Calcium-Magnesium:

Range of Ca++, Mg++ at site III 0.99-.08 mg/l

Over all minimum value 0.9 mg/l

Over all maximum value 8.0 mg/l

Permissible limit of Ca++, Mg++ 200 mg/l

JDW Sugar Mills: Water Analysis Available Sodium (Na+):

Range of Na+ at site III 0.71 - 7.3 meq/l

Over all minimum value 0.71 meq /l

Over all maximum value 7.3 meq /l

Permissible limit Na+ 200meq /l

JDW Sugar Mills: Water Analysis Bicarbonates (HCO3 -):

Range of HCO 3- at site III 2.08 10.99 meq/l

Over all minimum value (site I) 1.05 meq/l

Over all maximum value (site III) 10.99 meq/l

Permissible limit of HCO 3- 1.25-2.5meq/l

JDW Sugar Mills: Water Analysis Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR):

Range of SAR at site III 0 .58 -3.2 meq/l

Over all minimum value (site I) 0.52 meq/l

Over all maximum value (site III) 3.2 meq/l

Permissible limit of SAR 7-10 meq/l

JDW Sugar Mills: Water Analysis Chlorides (Cl -):

Range of Chlorides at site III 1.1- 6.3 meq/l

Over all minimum value 1.1 meq /l

Over all maximum value 6.3 meq /l

Permissible limit of Chlorides 250 meq /l

HUMZA SUGAR MILLS: Water Analysis

Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Range of EC at site III 4683 – 7768 uS/cm

Over all minimum value 4156 uS/cm

Over all maximum value 7768 uS/cm

Permissible limit of EC 1000 uS/cm


Calcium-Magnesium:

Range of Ca++, Mg++ at site III 15.2 - 33.46 mg/l

Over all minimum value (site III) 15.2 mg/l

Over all maximum value (site II) 42.4 mg/l

Permissible limit of Ca++, Mg++ 200mg /l


Available Sodium (Na+): Range of available sodium at site III 10-

31.7meq/l Over all minimum value (site III) 10

meq/l Over all maximum value (site I)

40.3meq/l Permissible limit of available sodium

200meq/l


Bicarbonates (HCO3 -):

Range of HCO3 – at site III 4.26- 7.97 meq/l

Over all minimum value (site I) 3.8meq/l

Over all maximum value (site II) 9.1meq/l

Permissible limit HCO3 - 1.25-2.5meq/1


Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR):

Range of SAR at site III 6.2 – 13.07 meq/l


Over all maximum value (site III) 13.07meq/l



Chlorides (Cl -):

Range of Chlorides at site III 26.61- 54.65meq/l


Over all maximum (site III) 54.65meq/l

Permissible limit of Chlorides 250meq/l

UNITED SUGAR MILLS:Water Analysis

Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Over all minimum value 1470 uS/cm

Over all maximum value 6024 uS/cm

Permissible limit of EC 1000 uS/cm

UNITED SUGAR MILLS: Water Analysis

Calcium-Magnesium:



Permissible limit of Ca++, Mg++ 200mg/l


Available Sodium (Na+):

Over all minimum value 11.51meq/l

Over all maximum value 27.7meq/l

Permissible limit of available sodium 200meq/1





Permissible limit HCO3 - 1.25-2.5meq/l


Chlorides:



Permissible limit of Chlorides 250meq/l

ETTEHAD SUGAR MILLS: Water Analysis

Electrical Conductivity (EC): Over all minimum value 2023

uS/cm Over all maximum value 6634

uS/cm Permissible limit of EC 1000

uS/cm


Calcium-Magnesium:



Permissible limit of Ca++, Mg++ 200 mg/l


Available Sodium (Na+): Over all minimum value

13.3meq/l Over all maximum value

27.34meq/l Permissible limit of available sodium

200meq/l





Permissible limit HCO3 - 1.25-2.5meq/l




Over all maximum value 9meq/l



Chlorides (Cl -):



Permissible limit of Chlorides 250meq/1

Soil Analysis

Parameters studied: Soil EC Soil Reaction (pH) Soil Saturation %

Soil Analysis: JDW Sugar Mills

Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Range of EC at site III 0.15 – 16.41 dSm-1 Over all min value (site V) 0.12

dSm-1 Over all max value (site I) 17.42

dSm-1 Permissible limit of EC 4.1-8.1 dSm-

1

Soil Analysis: JDW Sugar Mills Soil pH:

Range of pH at site III 7.6 – 9.0

Over all minimum value (site I) 7.6

Over all maximum value (site III) 9.0

Permissible limit of pH 6.4 - 8.5

Soil Analysis: JDW Sugar Mills

Soil Saturation %:

Range of S.S. % at site III 16 – 45

Over all min value (site I) 14 Over all max value (Site III) 45

Soil Analysis: Humza Sugar Mills Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Range of EC at site III 2.12 – 24.96 dSm-1

Over all minimum value (site I) 2.0 dSm-1

Over all maximum value (site III) 25.67 dSm-1

Permissible limit of EC 4.1-8.1 dSm-1

Soil Analysis: Humza Sugar Mills Soil pH:

Range of pH at site III 8.2 – 9.1

Over all minimum value (site I) 8.0

Over all maximum value (site II) 10.0

Permissible limit of pH 6.4 – 8.5

Soil Analysis: Humza Sugar Mills Soil Saturation %:

Range of soil saturation % (site III) 13.0 – 34.0

Over all minimum value (site II) 13.0 Over all maximum value (site V) 35.0

Soil Analysis: United Sugar Mills Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Over all min value 9.9 dSm-1

Over all max value 82.36 dSm-1


Soil Analysis: United Sugar Mills Soil pH:

Over all min value 8.1

Over all max value 8.7


Soil Analysis: United Sugar Mills Soil Saturation %:

Over all minimum value 18

Over all maximum value 44 Permissible limit 19

– 60

Soil Analysis: Ettehad Sugar Mills Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC):

Over all minimum value 9.78 dSm-1

Over all maximum value 22.45 dSm-1


Soil Analysis: Ettehad Sugar Mills Soil pH:

Over all minimum value 8.6

Over all maximum value 10.9


Soil Analysis: Ettehad Sugar Mills Soil Saturation %:

Over all minimum value 31.0

Over all maximum value 35.0

Permissible limit 19 – 60

Figure 3: Showing monthly variation of sodium in water at JDW Sugar Mills (Pvt.) Limited

.

0

12

3

45

6

78

9

May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April

Months

Ca+

+,M

g+

+

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 3: Showing monthly variation of sodium in water at JDW Sugar Mills (Pvt.) Limited

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April

Months

So

diu

m

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 4: Showing Monthly variation of Bi-carbonate in water at JDW Sugar Mills.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

months

Bi-

carb

on

ate

I

II

III

IV

V

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April

monthsE

C

I

II

III

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12


months

EC

I

II

II

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

EC

at

12

”

EC

at

18

”

EC

at

24

”

EC

at

30

”

EC

at

36

”

EC

at

48

”

Figure 15: Graph showing monthly depth wise (6” – 48”) EC comparison in soil samples taken from JDW Sugar Mills effluent sites.

Figure 5: Showing monthly variation of sodium absorption ratio (SAR) in water at JDW Sugar Mills.

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

months

SA

R

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 6: Showing monthly variation of Chloride in water at JDW Sugar Mills.

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

months

SA

R

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 7: Showing monthly variation of EC in water at Humza Sugar Mills.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 8: Showing monthly variation of Ca++, Mg++ in water at Humza Sugar Mills.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

months

Ca+

+,M

g+

+

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 9: Showing monthly variation of Chlorides in water at Humza Sugar Mills.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

month

chlo

ride

s

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 10: Showing Monthly variation of sodium in water at Humza Sugar Mills.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

month

sodi

um

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 11: Showing monthly variation of SAR in water at Humza Sugar Mills.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

months

SA

R

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 12: Showing monthly variation of Bi-carbonates in water at Humza Sugar Mills.

0

1

2

3

4

56

7

8

9

10

month

Bi-

car

bo

nate

I

II

III

IV

V

Figure 13: Showing monthly variation of overall Parameters in water at United Sugar Mills.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40


Ca++Mg++

Sodium

HCO3-

Chlorides

SAR

EC

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000


EC

Figure 14: Showing monthly variation of overall water Parameters at Ettehad Sugar Mills.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


Par

amet

ers

Ca++Mg++

Sodium

HCO3-

Chlorides

SAR

EC Ettehad

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000


EC

Figure 15: Graph showing monthly depth wise (6” – 48”) EC comparison in soil samples taken from JDW Sugar Mills effluent sites.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12


months

EC

I

II

II

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


months

EC

I

II

III

IV

V

DISCUSSION Water EC =Salinity

Water Salinity @ Calcium, Magnesium, Bi-carbonates, Chlorides, Sodium &SAR

pH @ CO2 ,Bicarbonates, carbonates, hydroxyl ions,

Calcium & Magnesium etc

Sugar Mills produce effluents CO2 Bicarbonates, carbonates, hydroxyl ions, Calcium & Magnesium etc.

Water pollution>>>>seepage + irrigation>>>Soil Pollution.

CONCLUSION

Crop Replacement (Cotton to Sugar cane),

Habitat degradation, Ecological Imbalance, Desertification.

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is evident from the results that effluents these sugar mills are polluting the nearby natural resources.

NEQS must be enforced on the basis of “Acta non Verba”

QUESTIONS ?

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

8.2

8.4

8.6

8.8


months

pH

I

II

III

IV

V

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

8.2

8.4

8.6

8.8

9


Month

pH

I

II

III

IV

V

7

7.2

7.4

7.6

7.8

8

8.2

8.4

8.6

8.8

9


month

pH

I

II

III

IV

V

an assessment of environmental impact of sugar mills

Education

humza sugar mills

jdw sugar mills

united sugar mills

minimum value site iii10

meql permissible limit

meql permissible limit

meql permissible limit

site iii0