Physical and chemical characteristics of Wastewater from the Fez Industrial Sector in Morocco

¹ Laboratoire Matériaux, Procédés, Catalyse, Agroalimentaire et Environnement (LMPCAE)- École Supérieure de Technologie - Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah – Fès, Morocco
² Laboratory of Natural Resources and Environment, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Taza, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah - Fez, Morocco

Abstract

Maintaining the sustainability of natural ecosystems and improving the health of human populations depend strongly on forecasting risks from pollution and safeguarding aquatic resources. The growing industry, which encourages economic expansion, especially through the rejection of unprocessed industrial waste, is one of the primary causes of these worries. Businesses that release their raw effluent into rivers or discharge systems, such as tannage, metallurgy, and textiles, are the main contributors to pollution in Fez, Morocco. The need for immediate intervention to prevent pollution from all sources is highlighted by the possibility that these reactions will upset the natural equilibrium in the future. The purpose of this study is to describe the wastewater from three industrial sites: laiton production (S1), tanneries (S2), and textile manufacturing operations (S3). In order to quantify the pollution caused by these activities, measurements have been taken. Numerous parameters exceed both the OMS-recommended limits and Moroccan standards, according to the results of physico-chemical studies. The effluents’ pH ranges from 5.91 to 9.24, their turbidity can reach 880 NTU, and their conductivity ranges from 2520 to 16740 μS/cm. The chemical demand for oxygen (DCO) ranges from 322.5 to 25,500 mg O₂/L, while the biochemical demand for oxygen (DBO5) ranges from 135 to 9,800 mg O₂/L. Furthermore, the content of nickel (Ni) is 172.46 mg/L, whereas the concentration of chloride ranges from 354 to 2903.5 mg/L.