Adoption and Implementation of Waste Water Treatment Technologies: The Case of Textile Industries
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Adoption and impact of environmental management technology: the case of waste water
treatment technologies in textile industries
Ameha Tegegne
Addis Ababa University, 2019
Industrialization, although a promising tool to pool out many societies from poverty and
enhances economic growth, is featured by different environmental consequences like pollution.
Ethiopia’s commitment to boost industrialization in order to achieve the middle income status
plan by 2025 prioritizing the textile sector has brought about fast growth of textile industries
which are known for their high polluting nature. Besides the adoption of waste water treatment
technologies in textile industries to prevent water pollution, implementation of these
technologies is not done accordingly and the result is far below the national expectation, water
pollution due to discharge of untreated waste water from textile industries is increasing with
time. This study is therefore intended to explore the implementation status of adopted treatment
technologies in Ethiopian textile industries and identify challenges related to their
implementation. Qualitative approach was employed in this research and data was collected via
interviews, site visit/observation, notes from informal discussions during visit and open-ended
questions. Results of the analysis showed that lack of environmental awareness and technical
support from pertinent institutions, lack of treatment chemicals and spare parts, poor
enforcement of environmental laws and lack of commitment both from industries and
environmental governing bodies to do accordingly are main causes for poor implementation
status of adopted technologies. Accordingly, it is concluded that environmental issues are not
properly addressed to all key players that there is lack of integration among them and due
attention is not given to the problem at all levels. It is therefore recommended that all concerned
bodies particularly governmental regulatory bodies to do their utmost efforts in enhancing
implementation of adopted technologies through providing support to textile industries,
facilitating local manufacture of treatment chemicals, formulate an environmental organ at
national level who own and responsibly manage environmental issues accordingly.