Abstract Nine 2008

GLOBAL

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

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Volume Five Winter 2007-Spring 2008 Numbers 1-2.

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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS IN THE TREATMENT OF CITRUS

PROCESSING AND SEWAGE EFFLUENT: THE CASE OF MAZOE CITRUS ESTATE IN ZIMBABWE

Phillip Taru Ishmael Sango

Noline Zhanda Chinhoyi University

Alex Kuvarega Zimbabwe

Bindura University

Zimbabwe

Published Online: February 10, 2017

ABSTRACT

The article discusses the effectiveness of waste stabilization systems at Mazoe Citrus Estate in the treatment and processing of sewage effluent. Water samples from the river were collected and analyzed for the same parameters as pond water. This was done to establish any changes in the river water quality because of the discharge or seepage from the pond system. Samples were analyzed for electrical connectivity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), nitrogen total and total phosphorous as well as pH tests. The results show that pH did not comply with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) standards. The COD, nitrogen total and total phosphorous levels were abnormally high, with some reaching 400 mg/L and 9mg/L, respectively, exceeding the ZINWA redline bands limits. This implies that the effluent presents significant risks of water pollution and environmental damage. The results conclusively indicated that waste stabilization pond systems were not effective in the treatment of citrus processing and sewage effluent.