Coffee is processed in Ethiopia both by dry and wet processing. All coffee processing plants practice in efficient traditional approach though it consumes huge amount of water resulting in water pollution and low coffee quality. The aim of this study is to review and synthesis the implication of wet coffee processing waste on rivers water quality in Ethiopia. Implication of traditional coffee processing on water is assessed based on unpublished government reports, thesis work and published works. The result indicates, the estimated amount of pulp as a solid waste from wet coffee processing is 464,131.078 tons/year, and 3,000,000 m3/year of water which is added to the environment. The solid waste is used as fertilizer however the wastewater has been entered into the small pits that are assumed to biologically detoxify but are neither properly constructed nor to the right dimension to accommodate the generated waste during peak processing time. The finding indicates that the coffee industries pollutes the water source by realizing waste which is low in pH, high in organic load, caffeine, tannins, polyphenols and inorganic nutrients which potential threatens river and stream ecological health by affecting water quality. Moreover, this waste causes a serious environmental problem among the residents in releasing bad odor due to anaerobic decomposition and visual impairment. So, reasonable location change of the processing plants along the river course and establishing reasonable central improved waste management networking has paramount significance to enhance coffee quality and protect environmental health.
Keywords: Coffee waste, wastewater, pulp