A postal survey of effluent generation and disposal in the Zimbabwean dairy industry

Abstract

Water is a major utility in the dairy industry, which results in significant effluent volumes being generated, hence the challenge of its disposal cannot be ignored. In Zimbabwe, industry generally is not made to pay the full cost of managing industrial effluents, which inadvertently encourages environmental pollution. This paper presents the results of a postal survey of effluent generation and disposal by the dairy industry. A total of 30 questionnaires were sent out to various milk processors around the country out of which 15 were returned. The useful respondents receive and process 56% of the total milk produced in the country. The data obtained indicated that while some of the plants discharge their effluents into the municipal sewers, others discharge theirs by means of land irrigation. This latter method has the consequence of groundwater pollution. Respondents' knowledge of effluent characteristics was generally low, which is not surprising as there are no stringent penalties for polluting.