MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST WATER POLLUTION IN DAIRIES ANI) MILK PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

Dairy waste, more than any other trade waste has long since attracted the attention of specialists in the field of waste water purification. Many experi-ments have been made with artificial waste water, made from milk or milk products. Dairy wastes provide an excellent nutrient medium for many types of bacteria and fungi and, contrary to opinions held at one time, are very amenable to aerobic biological treatment. The rapid oxygen consumption of dairy waste is, on the other hand, a disadvantage. Discharge into public water will lead to lack of oxygen, much quicker than in the case of domestic sewage. Anaerobic conditions can be observed in small streams at a short distance from the point of discharge. Dairies discharging effluent into local sewers must generally comply with requirements as to volume and strength of the waste in order to safeguard the purification plant. The need for purification of domestic sewage and trade wastes is obviou