Performance Analysis of Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) in Turbidity, COD, and Microbial Load Reduction from Domestic Washing Machine Effluent and Urban Lake Water

This study evaluates Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) as a coagulant for improving water quality by removing turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and microbial contaminants. Samples were collected from domestic washing machine effluent and an urban lake in Mysuru, Karnataka. Initial laboratory tests involved creating controlled turbidity levels using Bentonite clay to evaluate the effectiveness of PAC at different concentrations, followed by application to Domestic Washing Machine (DWM) Effluent and Urban Lake (UL) water. PAC achieved substantial reductions in turbidity, COD, and microbial load even at low dosages, producing compact sludge. The results confirm PAC as an efficient, sustainable coagulant suitable for urban and semi-urban water treatment applications in India