EFFECT OF WET COFFEE PROCESSING EFFLUENT ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF UJUMO RIVER WATER IN HARU DISTRICT,WEST WOLLEGA ZONE,OROMIA,ETHIOPIA.

ABSTRACT Freshwater bodies and their biodiversity are at risk due to water pollution from industrial effluents and household sewage. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of wet coffee processing effluent on the physicochemical characteristics of the Ujumo River. The composite triplicated (1Lx3per day=3Liters) sampling of each point's sites (upriver as S1; effluent as S2 and downriver as S3) totaled 3Lx3per site=9Liters during the September 2018 EC/2025GC coffee bean peeking. By examining the samples, the selected physicochemical properties were determined. Primary data on the effects of wet coffee processing effluent on downriver local household users was gathered through focus groups and interviews. Statistical analyses such as correlation analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) have been carried out using Microsoft Excel (2010) and SPSS software (version 26). The PH ranges from 5.00±0.15 to 6.93±0.15, with the lower value at effluent (5.00) being more acidic than below the EEPA and WHO standards, according to the results reported by range. This suggests that the water quality parameters from upriver effluent to downriver were important. Turbidity ranged from 17.17±0.15NTU to 185.53±0.12 NTU; Total Suspended Solid ranged from 18.67±1.53 mg/L to 750.0±3.00 mg/L; Color ranged from 321.33±4.16 Pt-Co to 502.0±6.24 Pt-Co; Nitrate (NO3-) ranged from 8.77±0.21 mg/L to 0.89±0.20 mg/L; and phosphate (PO43-) were all significantly higher downstream (p < 0.05). TDS ranged from 42.67±0.29 to 175.83±2.52 mg/L, EC ranged from 85.33±0.58 to 321.67±5.03, and sulfate ranged from 4.1 7±0.20 to 6.07±0.21, all of which were significantly below EEPA and WHO standards. The high levels of water contaminants found in most of the samples collected from wastewater and downstream sections of the river significantly exceeded the EEPA and WHO 2022 updated surface water discharge limits. The qualitative data also revealed that the community was affected by human malaria cases, skin irritation, and unpleasant odors and color changes in rivers due to effluents from coffee processing plants. Therefore, coffee processing facilities should treat their effluents before releasing them into rivers. Responsible government agencies should allow coffee processing facilities to operate in compliance with environmental safety regulations. Key words/phrases: Coffee, effluent, water pollution, wet coffee processing, physicochemical parameters