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Industrial River Pollution
EmTec™ FIELD STUDY: Ayutthaya, Thailand

          

Problem Description

In March, 2007 an unknown chemical was released into the river north of Ayutthaya, Thailand. Speculation of the contamination varied between a discharge from a MSG manufacturing plant, and a discharge from a damaged sugar transport barge.

For the next five days, the contamination moved downstream, killing all of the fish in the river and the local fish farms. The contamination zone was visible in the river, slowly moving downstream. The unknown chemical was not found to be toxic, but the organic material was depleting the dissolved oxygen in the river. As the contamination moved downstream, it was literally suffocating the fish, killing thousands of fish and robbing hundreds of local fish farmers of their inventory and breeding stock.

On the 5th Day, EmTec-FM was applied to the surface of the river.
Within 24 hours, no further fish died.

RIVER SPECS:

• 500-800 Meter width
• 6 Meter average depth
• Average flow of 60 m3/sec

The contamination plume was defined by measuring the dissolved oxygen (DO). In the center of the plume, the DO was less than one. The normal DO in this river was around 6 mg/L. As the contamination moved down stream, it was monitored by taking DO readings upstream, down stream and in the center of the contamination. Samples were also taken to test for COD (Chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (BioChemical Oxygen Demand). COD and BOD are regularly used to monitor water contamination.

Solution

EmTec-FM was applied daily on the contaminated plume for 10 days, degrading the organic material and restoring the natural balance of the river.

As the boat applied the product, it also aerated the water using compressed air and water from fire fighting equipment on the boat. Nutrients were not added.

Results

Within 24 hours, the dissolved oxygen tripled and was raised high enough that it was not lethal to fish. Over the next 10 days of treatment, the DO continued to rise.

Resources

Article: Options for Treating Landfill Leachate

More Information: Wastewater Treatment

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