Characterization of Wastewater of a Covid-19 Dedicated Hospital (SARI-ITC), Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar And It’s Impact on Ecosystem

Abstract

Hospitals produce a huge quantity of wastewater every day. Activated sludge process is generally used for treatment of hospital wastewater in Bangladesh. Wastewater effluent from the hospitals has been gradually increasing during the recent years due to developments in medical services and products in Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the COVID-19 dedicated hospital called Severe Acute Respiratory Infection -isolation and treatment center (SARI-ITC), Teknaf, Cox’s bazar, wastewater treatment practices, targeted to identify the flaws of existing waste management, and figure out the ecosystemic impacts. Wastewater samples were collected from three different places. Raw wastewater sample collected from the settler tank of the treatment plant (ABR). Treated wastewater sample was collected from the holding tank of ABR, and Disposal wastewater sample was collected from the disposal pond and has been sent to the laboratory for determining the physical and chemical parameters. The questionnaire survey was conducted at the local community level. The survey questions were mainly concerned with the Environmental impacts on natural resources and public health issues, as well as on the nearby community. After the lab test on the disposal area sample pH is within acceptable limits. Other parameters, such as Turbidity, BOD, COD, EC, DO, TDS, and Fecal Coliform, of wastewater samples from the SARI-ITC disposal area were not within the acceptable limits. The overall Environmental Impact Value indicates a negative result (-) 67, which clearly if the environmental degradation by wastewater disposal from SARI-ITC. A well-organized treatment plant should be designed, and an Effective Environmental Management Plan should be introduced for minimizing the pollution on local environment.