## 4 Discussion  
Reference [52] reported a steady maintenance of pH, phosphate (0.29-0.54 mg/L), nitrate (0.32-6.5 mg/L), nitrite (0.06-2.4 mg/L), and COD (48-1,180 mg/L) removal despite temperature fluctuations (18-25 \({}^{\circ}\)C). However, they observed seasonal COD variation, with higher values being observed in summer and autumn due to municipal effluent contributions. Similarly, our study observed higher COD values in winter, followed by summer and autumn, reflecting seasonal variations and similar mechanisms. While [43]  
Figure 7: Monthly rainfall and efficiency of wastewater treatment plant parameters. noted nitrate levels exceeding safety limits during summer, our findings indicated reduced total nitrogen levels with rising temperatures, suggesting an enhanced microbial activity in warmer conditions. However, the observed phosphorus levels exceeded the South African target limit of 5 \(\upmu\)g/L, indicating undiscovered phosphorus sources in the water system, although our results showed a minimal impact of temperature on the total phosphorus removal, demonstrating plant stability. In references [53; 54], elevated winter COD levels are attributed to reduced microbial activity in colder conditions, consistent with our findings of reduced organic matter breakdown during colder seasons. On the other hand, [55], who analyzed the Kabd WWTP in Kuwait, observed pH stability (around 7.7) across seasons, matching our findings. Additionally, our influent and effluent TSS and BOD\({}_{5}\) levels align with their seasonal trends, albeit with slightly lower pollutant loads in our effluent, possibly due to advanced treatment methods or variations in influent characteristics. Additionally, while most parameters, including the BOD and phosphorus levels, showed high removal efficiencies (>71% and >91%, respectively), the denitrification processes were limited in colder conditions, as noted by [56]. Seasonal variations also influenced industrial wastewater treatment efficacy, as observed by [57], who found the lowest COD removal efficiency during winter, with better performance in summer. This is consistent with our study, where warmer seasons showed higher BOD and COD removal efficiencies. Similarly, [52; 53] reported enhanced removal efficiencies for TSSs, BOD, and COD in warm weather conditions, correlating with increased microbial activity. Meanwhile, [58] analyzed 17 WTPs in Egypt, reporting significant reductions in the TSS, BOD, and COD levels and compliance with discharge standards. Likewise, [59] documented effective phosphorus removal, with effluent P Tot concentrations well below the regulatory limits, comparable to our results. For instance, our study achieved average winter effluent P Tot concentrations of 0.33 \(\pm\) 1.06 mg/L, well within permissible bounds, indicating consistent treatment efficiency across seasons. Additionally, both studies demonstrated robust TSSs and nitrogen removal, with the effluent NH4 and TSS levels consistently meeting the regulatory standards. In reference [60], moderate correlations are noted between rainfall and both influent BOD\({}_{5}\) and TSS concentrations, with slight rises during heavier rainfall. Our findings align, as the precipitation occasionally influenced influent pollutant concentrations, although these remained within permissible limits. However, we observed weak negative correlations between the rainfall and both the influent P Tot and COD concentrations, suggesting dilution effects during heavy precipitation. Furthermore, [61] highlighted effluent quality deterioration during rainfall events, with increased effluent NH\({}_{4}\) and TSS concentrations but improved phosphorus removal. Similarly, [62] observed enhanced phosphorus removal but higher operating costs due to challenges in nitrogen removal under wet conditions, reflecting the need for cost-effective adaptation strategies.