ABSTRACT:
The beverages industry faces growing scrutiny of responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. These industries cause high probability of polluting the environment by discharging untreated wastewater in to the soil and water which lead to agricultural loss and human health hazards. The aim of this study was to characterize various physiochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, TS, BOD, COD and DO etc. from effluent samples collected from four different beverage industries located in Delhi-NCR along with the biochemical characterization of isolated bacterial strains from effluent. Analysis of the collected samples states that the pH values were 4.57, 4.91, 5.17 and 5.11; Total Dissolved Solids were 1175 mg/l, 1210mg/l, 1270 mg/l and 1250 mg/l; total hardness was measured as 226, 223, 244 and 220 mg/l and alkalinity were 130, 138, 145 and 141 mg/l, respectively. Chloride test was found negative for effluent samples revealing the absence of chlorine molecule. Dissolved Oxygen were 3.3, 2.8, 3.1 and 3.2 mg/l, Biological Oxygen Demand were 211, 256, 237 and 272 mg/l where as Chemical Oxygen Demand was found 1067, 1098, 1078 and 1092 mg/l, respectively. Results suggested that pH values, DO, total hardness, alkalinity; BOD and COD were exceeded to the permissible standard limits. This study provides a detailed insight that beverage industries do produce waste linked problems and there is a high probability of polluting the environment by these industries as a result of discharge of untreated wastewater into the water body or soil that may lead to death of crops or reduction in crops yield, contamination of drinking water supplies and/or accumulation and dissemination of toxic chemicals that may further endanger ecosystems and threaten public health. It is hoped that waste water management practices being used in beverages and other food industries will benefit to sustain the natural environment.