ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES FROM ELFORA MELGE FARM AND AGRO PROCESSING FACTORY IN WONDO BUSSA KEBELE, OROMIA REGION

Liquid waste disposal practice, which is a consequence of day -to- day activity of human kinds, needs to be managed properly. Bussa Kebele faces problems associated with poor practices waste disposal from Elfora Melge farm and Agro processing factory. The purpose of this study was to assess environmental and public health impacts associated with the liquid waste disposal practices from Elfora Melge farm and Agro processing factory in Wondo Bussa Kebele, Oromia Region. To serve this purpose investigative survey research design was employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. For the study Bussa Kebele was selected by using purposive sampling, while 182 households were selected by using simple random sampling techniques. Additionally, 2 healthy extension workers and 2 kebele health professionals were included through purposive sampling. Questionnaire and experimental physicochemical Analysis were used as the main tools of data collection. Key informants were used to substantiate the data gathered through questionnaires. The data was collected by observation, interviewing factory employees, and interviewing residents. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics temperature, pH, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand to determine the impact of the poor liquid waste handling practice of the stream water in the area. The major problems that hinder household liquid waste disposal in the kebele lack of institutional coordination, insufficient and unskilled man power, very low financial capacity, weak enforcement of rules and regulations, socio-cultural factors and lack of awareness among the community. The poor liquid waste handling practice of residents, the poor solid waste handling practice of neighboring households and the poor liquid waste handling practice of factory. It is recommended that establishing a comprehensive monitoring program to periodically assess the environmental and health impacts of liquid waste disposal. This should include measuring water quality parameters in local water bodies and monitoring of potential contaminants that could pose a public health risk. 4<br>