Impacts of Textile Effluent on Environment and their

possible remedial measures

Introduction

Textile effluent is considered to be the most polluting element emitted from the textile industry. It affects the environment very badly. In the developing country like Bangladesh, this condition is more eyes catching. The effluent becomes the source of pollution of the environment. It pollutes the surface and subsurface water, soil and air. Now a day, its proper management and remedial measures like disposal system has become the most serious challenges all over the world and also in Bangladesh.

Definition of Effluent

Textile effluent can be defined as the stream of excess chemical liquor from the textile industry after using in original operation.

It is defined by the English Dictionary as “liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or in the sea”.

So we can say that, the waste water discharged from the textile industry is called effluent.

Effluent from Textile Industry

Impacts of Textile Effluent on environment

Generally, the textile industries release a large amount of effluents, which contain toxic and hazardous pollutants degrades the environment very badly. Textile industrial effluents also show toxic effects on aquatic macrophytes and algae, as it is noticed that, aquatic macrophytes could hardly survive 2 days on textile effluent.

Cont…The effects can broadly be described as follows:

Surface water pollutionThe effluent becomes the source of pollution of the surface water. Generally, surface water is used for irrigation, bathing domestic animals, household usage etc. So, the surface water becomes unusable. It can’t be used for drinking, cooking, bathing, irrigation etc.

Ground water pollutionGround water considered to be the most important source of drinking water. Human being depends on the ground water for drinking purpose. It is noticed that ground water is uncontaminated still now. But, if this condition is going on then the ground water will be polluted gradually.

Cont…Pollution of soilBesides polluting the ground and surface water, textile effluent pollutes the soil also. Soil is the most important medium for growing plant, bushes, crops etc. The quality of crops depends upon the quality of soil. So, when the quality of soil decreases due to industrial effluent, the amount and quality of crops also decreases. It is also seen that, the lower lands becomes more polluted than the higher lands. Because, the effluents ultimately deposited in the lower lands.Air pollutionThe effluents also put effects on air. Effluent pollutes the air by mixing bad odor in air.

Remedial measures

By Effluent treatment and disposal systemGenerally textile effluent includes dyes and chemicals which is the major case of polluting the environment. Main pollution in effluent comes from dyeing and finishing process. The main pollutants in effluent are high suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, heat, color, acidity and other soluble substances. So, substances which need to be removed from the effluent are mainly COD, BOD, Nitrogen, Heavy metals and Dyestuff.

Cont…

The process sequences involved in effluent treatment are as follows:

Primary filtration Cooling and mixing Neutralization tank Coagulant bath Settling tank Pressure filter Discharge

Cont…

By Increasing AwarenessIf we want to reduce the bad impacts of Textile Effluent on environment we should be aware of the bad effects of the Effluent. The authority of the Textile industry should be aware of it. The authorities always look for their benefits, but they should also look for the healthy environment.By maintaining Government rules and regulationsThe government of every country put some rules and regulations for the industries. So, the authority of the industry should maintain the government rules and regulations.

Conclusion

From the above discussion it is noticed that, textile effluent pollutes the environment very badly. So we should pay a great attention to eradicate the environment pollution from effluent and save the environment.