Background

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances contaminate waterways, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.

The presence of colour in discharge water is often caused by dissolved organics and tannins which are created during the tea manufacturing process. This colouration effects not only the aesthetic appearance of the water, but when this wastewater is discharged to nature, photosynthesis activity becomes limited, which has detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Moreover, releasing untreated wastewater into the ecosystem can result in:

  • Bioaccumulation of chemicals in the food chain
  • Population decreases in aquatic species