Assessment of Pollution Load in Marble Waste Water in Khairabad, District Nowshera, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The current research was conducted to investigate pollution load in marble wastewater of marble industries
in Khairabad, District Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. These marble industries dispose their wastes directly
into the river Kabul passing through Jehangira and Khairabad, District Nowshera. For this purpose water samples were
collected from selected locations of the marble industries along the length of river Kabul. Physical parameters like pH,
temperature and electrical conductivity were analyzed on the spot, while Total Suspended Solids and Total Dissolved
Solids were analyzed in laboratory using standard methods. Heavy metals were analyzed by using Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer. The results were compared with Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and
concluded that some of the parameters were within the safe limits of PAK-EPA, but the heavy metals concentrations
were very high and thus affect water resources, if not adequately and properly managed. Moreover, the concerned
sectors should regularly monitor the marble factories.
Keywords: Wastewater, physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, Pak-EPA.