The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant of Hawassa St. George brewery by collecting wastewater samples from the influent and outlet of each treatment unit and analyzed using standard methods for major physicochemical parameters. Results of the present study revealed that except for temperature (36-38 0 C), all of the other analyzed parameters of raw wastewater exceeded the national discharge limit indicating the necessity of treating the raw wastewater generated by the brewery. In most cases, the values decreased as the wastewater passed over the treatment units of the plant indicating an involvement of the units in the removal of pollutants. The brewery's treated final effluent had a mean value of 8.6±0.08 (pH), 24.9±0.6 o C (temperature), 203.0 mg/L (COD), 17.7 mg/L (NH4-N), 3.62 mg/L (SO 2 4), 220.6μS/cm (EC), 49.8 mg/L (BOD5), and 529.6 NTU (turbidity), which were within national industrial wastewater discharge limits. However, the values of some parameters namely, TN (41.0 mg/L), TP (24.3 mg/L), H2S (3.1 mg/L) and TDS (110.6 mg/L), were higher than the limits. The overall pollutant removal efficiency of the treatment plant was 96.0% (BOD), 92.3% (TSS), 92.0% (COD), 88.5% (EC), 80.6% (TDS), 49.6% (turbidity), 43.0% (SO4 2-), 42.7% (NH4-N), 33.6% (temperature), 32.8% (TN), 31.8% (pH), and 30.4% (TP). This result shows that the overall removal efficiency was higher only for BOD5, TSS, COD, TDS, and EC, all others (especially nutrients) had less than 50.0% efficiencies. Higher nutrient concentration exceeding the discharge limits in final effluent and poor removal efficiency of the treatment plant indicates that the Hawassa St. Gorge brewery waste treatment plant is not effective enough to lower concentrations of these parameters below the discharge limit. Therefore, in order to make the plant more efficient and to reduce the effect of effluent, the factory should take some technological, technical and recycling measures.

This is a revised and expanded version of a previously published qualitative analysis scheme for the identification of 11 white solids using materials readily available in drugstores, supermarkets, or variety stores. Phenolphthalein has been eliminated because the FDA banned its use in over-the-counter laxatives; instead, tests for pH are conducted using red cabbage indicator. Once commonly used by diabetics to test urine, copper reduction tablets are no longer widely available and are replaced by a mixture of ingredients. Three white solids and two types of mixtures, commercial antacid tablets and baking powder, have been added to the scheme. All procedures can be done with the simplest of equipment. Amounts of solids are measured volumetrically and heat is supplied by contact with hot tap water. The use of household chemicals reduces waste disposal problems while making the experiment suitable for a laboratory exercise in a distance-learning course. This experiment can be adapted for many levels of instruction. In middle school only the safer tests should be included; honors general chemistry students can be asked to design an analysis scheme for the 14 household chemicals.