Evaluation of Effluent Wetland Treated Water for Irrigation

Abstract

This research was studied the suitability of water coming out of the treatment plant for wetlands constructed at the University of Basrah: Iraq for irrigation use. Samples were taken over a whole year starting from March 2018 to February 2019, during which (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate) were tested and measured. In this study, the classification and validity of the water quality index,   of the wetlands for irrigation, were evaluated and compared with the approved Iraqi standards such as pH, electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate. The computing the quality index adopted in this study according to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME WQI), was reported.

The results showed that high values of electrical conductivity, the chemical oxygen demand, ammonium, total suspended solids values exceeded the permissible irrigation water Iraqi specification. The study concluded that the suitability of employing the parameters pH, EC, COD, NH4, NO3 for water quality index as follows:  the pH, ammonium, and nitrate values of the treated wetland water were generally achieved by the Iraqi standard specifications in terms of suitability for irrigation. The high values of electrical conductivity due to the high rate of dissolved solids in sewage, and exceeded the permissible standards for Iraqi irrigation water. Also, the chemical oxygen demand exceeds permissible Iraqi standards in some months.

According to the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers Water Quality Index (CCME WQI), the water classification was acceptable fair in terms of its suitability for irrigation.