Assessment of Influent Quality in a 50 KLD Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plant at an Educational Campus

The quality of influent sewage plays an important role in determining the operational efficiency and treatment design of sewage treatment plant (STPs). This study focuses on evaluating the physico-chemical characteristics of untreated sewage inflow to a 50 KLD decentralized STP located at the Madanapalle Institute of Technology & Science (MITS), Angallu. Monthly wastewater samples of raw sewage collected from October 2024 to March 2025 and analyzed for key water quality parameters. The assessment included Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Solids (TS), Turbidity, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Hardness, Alkalinity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Phosphates, and Chlorides. Standard methods are employed for analysis. The findings revealed high concentrations of organic and inorganic pollutants in the influent water, with several parameters exceeding permissible discharge limits prescribed by CPCB/BIS. These results highlight the need for robust and efficient treatment processes and provide a foundational understanding for optimizing STP performance and safeguarding environmental and public health.