Marble production and environmental pressure

ABSTRACT The marble manufacturing industry is one of the major waste-generating industries that require special mitigation and environmental assessment to minimize harmful impacts on the environment. The primary objective of the study was to examine the pollution load of marble industries, with a particular focus on wastewater treatment techniques. Marble processing plants were investigated and monitored for the production-to-waste management process. To determine the quality of wastewater, samples of wastewater were treated in the laboratory by adopting physical and chemical treatment methods. The industries were also investigated for the consumption of environmental resources as products and byproducts. The results obtained showed a heavy load of suspended solids (18,575–19,930 mg L−1) and turbidity (340–455 NTU). In heavy metals, Pb (0.25 mg L−1) and Cd (0.15 mg L−1) were observed at higher concentrations. Chemical treatment (coagulation) with hydrated ferric chloride showed maximum removal of suspended load with 92% efficiency, followed by Al2(SO4)3·18H2O (79%) and FeSO4·7H2O (68%). In terms of resource utilization and environmental quality, pollution was observed through unsafe waste disposal strategies. The insights from this research can inform policymakers and relevant authorities to put efforts toward sustainable wastewater management practices in Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Peshawar, fostering a cleaner and healthier environment for the community.