Contaminations of soil and two Capsicum annuum generations irrigated by reused urban wastewater treated by different reed beds

Almuktar, SAAAN; Abed, SN; Scholz, M

Abstract

Background: In order to save potable water, this study aims to evaluate the contamination of soil and Capsicum annuum L. (chilli) watered with urban wastewater (sewage) pre-treated by various wetland systems.
Methods: The appropriateness of wetland outflow for irrigation when applying reused wastewater with high contamination of minerals and pathogens was assessed. The impact of wastewaters pre-treated by various wetlands on soil and harvest was tested in terms of mineral and biological contamination risk.
Results: The wetlands met the standards for irrigation water for most water quality variables. However, the thresholds for key water quality parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) exceeded. The highest values for total coliforms, ammonium-nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were 157,072 CFU/100 mL, 8.5 mg/L, 5.0 mg/L, and 7.0 mg/L, respectively. The harvest was moderately polluted only by zinc according to vegetable quality standards (threshold of 50 mg/kg). Zinc concentrations for Filters 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 were 35.8, 60.6, 65.1, 65.5 and 53.2 mg/kg, respectively. No bacterial contamination was detected.
Conclusions: Treatment of domestic wastewater applying constructed wetlands and subsequent recycling of the treated wastewater for irrigation of crops is a good substitute to the traditional application of drinking water for irrigation purposes.

Citation

Almuktar, S., Abed, S., & Scholz, M. (2018). Contaminations of soil and two Capsicum annuum generations irrigated by reused urban wastewater treated by different reed beds. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), #1776. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081776

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 17, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 18, 2018
• Publication Date: Aug 18, 2018
• Deposit Date: Sep 6, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 6, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 8
• Pages: #1776
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081776
• Keywords: constructed wetland, cultivar, ecological engineering, irrigation water quality, sewage treatment, sustainable development, zinc
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081776
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
• Additional Information: Funders : Government of Iraq; Projects : PhD Studentship for Suhad A.A.A.N. Almuktar