GIS-Based Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Industrial Wastewater Pollution in the Konya Municipal Sewer System

Abstract

Wastewater containing high pollutant loads is discharged into the municipal sewerage system by industrial facilities operating within the industrial zones of Konya, Türkiye. Although regulations mandate that wastewater be treated to comply with specified discharge standards, some facilities lack pretreatment systems due to high capital and operational costs, while existing systems experience operational deficiencies. As a consequence, operational disruptions and increased environmental risks occur within the municipal sewerage system. Periodic sampling and inspection activities conducted by municipal authorities are becoming increasingly challenging for effective monitoring and evaluation as the number of facilities increases. In this study, a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based approach was developed to enhance monitoring effectiveness, and industrial wastewater quality data were analyzed using ArcGIS Pro 2.9 software (Esri, Redlands, CA, USA) to generate spatial pollution distribution maps. Samples were collected from five industrial facilities and four sewer junction points located in the Hacıyusufmescit, Emirgazi, and Fetih neighborhoods, where odor problems are frequently reported, during the 2022-2023 period. It was determined that COD (24,960 mg/L), BOD (2970 mg/L), and oil and grease (254 mg/L) concentrations significantly exceeded the regulatory discharge limits, particularly during the summer season. The results demonstrate that GIS-based monitoring systems constitute an effective tool for the early detection of pollution and odor-related problems at the urban scale, for the systematic management of control processes, and for the facilitation of evidence-based decision-making.