Abstract

Wastewater discharges from two textile industries in Lagos (Nigeria) were analysed for their pollution characteristics such as temperature, pH suspended solids (SS), total solids (TS), permanganate value (PV), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). For the first textile industry the range of values for the above named characteristics were: 29.10 - 33.500C, 9.25 - 11.18, 506.50 - 663.20mg/l, 5157.50 - 6930.30mg/l, 528.70 #x2013; 728.60mg/l, 646.10 #x2013; 880.00mg/l, and 2190.00 #x2013; 2984.00mg/l. Also the second industry had values ranging from 31.40 #x2013; 41.800C, 9.22 - 11.60, 455.60 #x2013; 684.90mg/l,5099.20 #x2013; 7624.10mg/l, 469.60 #x2013; 746.40mg/l, 584.30 #x2013; 885.00mg/l and 2012.13 #x2013; 2960.00mg/l. The study revealed that the textile wastewaters were untreated and contained high amounts of pollutants. These pollutants are discharged daily into nearby receiving surface waters. There is need to prioritize action to minimize rapid depletion of dissolved oxygen in the receiving water so as to prevent #x201C;oxygen sag#x201D; in the water there also need to protect the quality and portability of the receiving surface water so as to reduce its adverse health implications on consumers in the surrounding environment.