Subterranean Fishes of the World

6895

2025

Preprints

© 2025 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license

Abstract: Slovenia is one of the few countries where the species Proteus anguinus lives. This species' habitat is mainly in the Natura 2000 area of Slovenia. The agricultural industry developed in this area, including local farms and dairies. One of them is the Krepko dairy, strategically located directly in the habitat of the Proteus anguinus. According to current Slovenian legislation, directly releasing wastewater from the dairy industry into the environment is prohibited. For this reason, the dairy is obliged to clean wastewater before releasing into the environment. The Proteus anguinus has a very narrow ecological tolerance regarding its habitat. Because of that, the Krepko dairy wastewater treatment plant has three phases: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary phase involves chemical treatment, a process that this paper thoroughly investigates. The process of neutralization, coagulation, and flocculation will be examined, and the impact of this chemical phase on the cleaning process will be analyzed using on-site jar tests and pH measuring instruments. The quality of the chemical treatment will be evaluated based on visual and time data for neutralization, coagulation, and flocculation. The data for chemical oxygen demand will be taken in laboratory analysis as control data for the effectiveness of new chemicals. The primary data of the research will relate to the secondary literature on Proteus anguinus habitat protection ecology. The discussion will link primary and secondary data, highlighting the potential impact on the habitat of Proteus anguinus. The conclusions will outline the main challenges and provide recommendations for better environmental protection of Proteus anguinus, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent potential harm. Keywords: Slovenia; Proteus anguinus; Natura 2000; dairy industry; wastewater; chemical treatment

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