Pollution Control through Water Conservation and Wastewater Reuse in the Fish Processing Industry

Abstract

The seafood processing industry is the major food processing industry in Thailand. It consumes large quantities of water and thereby generates huge volumes of wastewater of a polluting nature. A major tuna processing factory is presented as a case study to highlight the inter-related issues of excessive use of groundwater, the resultant deterioration in water quality and the economic consequences of this impact. To address these issues, the need to conserve water and reuse it is also examined in relation to the design and operation of a wastewater treatment plant using high loading rates in anaerobic ponds followed by a conventional activated sludge system.