Investigation on wastewater quality of food industry of Hamedan Province (Case study: Khosh Noosh Company)

Food industries are among the main national industries allocating a significant contribution in terms of total production, water consumption, and effluent generation. Khosh Noosh company is one of the main food industry in Hamedan City that its effluent releases into the Jorghan River after treatment and finally IS USED for irrigation of agricultural lands. The aim of this study was to assess the company's effluent quality and its comparison with the standards of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization and the National Department of Environment. During this study, a station from the exit of the company and the entrance to the Jorghan River was selected and parameters of pH, TSS, TDS, COD, BOD5, total coliform and fecal coliform were evaluated. The study found that there is a significant relationship between pH and the standard of National Department of Environment at 95% confidential level. However, no significant relationship was stablished between other parameters and this standard. With a confidence level of 95%, there was a significant difference between TDS and the World Health Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The correlation between chemical and biological factors in Khosh Noosh Company indicated that there is a significant relationship only between BOD5 to COD and pH and also between pH and total coliforms with 95% confidence level. While no significant relationship exists between other factors.