Industrial wastewater in Burkina Faso

The vast majority of wastewater is discharged directly into the environment without adequate treatment, with adverse effects on human health, economic productivity, the quality of environmental freshwater resources and ecosystems. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of industrial wastewater on water quality in the Centre, Plateau Central, Centre-Ouest and Hauts-Bassins regions. Three types of water were selected: surface water and borehole water located near industrial zones, and wastewater (from wastewater treatment plants and industrial units). The results of these water analyses showed that the receiving waters (rivers and boreholes) are contaminated to varying degrees by the various discharges of wastewater from industrial units.This study is the fruit of lengthy work by the General Directorate of Water Resources.