Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research

Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research

Treated Wastewater Reuse for Agricultural Irrigation: A Case Study in Saveh City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Student Research Committee, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
2 Water and Wastewater Quality Monitoring and Control Center, Kermanshah Province Water and Wastewater Company, Kermanshah, Iran
3 Human Resources and Research of Water and Wastewater Company of Kermanshah Province, Kermanshah, Iran
4 Islamic Azad University of Kermanshah, Kermanshah, Iran
5 Water and Wastewater Finance Department, Kermanshah Water and Wastewater Company, Kermanshah, Iran
10.34172/jaehr.1424
Abstract
Introduction: Using treated wastewater for farming irrigation is a strategic way to address water shortages. While it offers the benefit of providing nutrients to crops, its use poses health risks unless pathogens are sufficiently reduced to comply with safety standards. This study assessed the feasibility of reusing treated municipal wastewater from Saveh City, Iran, for agricultural purposes.
Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study, the samples were collected from the inlet and outlet of the Saveh wastewater treatment plant during spring and summer 2024. Physical, chemical, and biological parameters were analyzed according to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Results: The treated effluent complied with the Iranian agricultural standards for key physicochemical parameters, including pH, turbidity, chloride, and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) was 5.28 and sodium percentage (Na%) was 53, indicating low sodium hazard and excellent water quality for irrigation. However, total and fecal coliform levels (26,000 and 6000 MPN/100 mL, respectively) exceeded permissible limits. The study calculated that the treated wastewater could irrigate approximately 194 hectares of wheat.
Conclusion: While the treated wastewater from Saveh is chemically suitable for agricultural reuse, its microbial quality requires enhancement through disinfection (e.g., UV, ozone) or additional treatment prior to use to ensure public health safety.
Keywords
Subjects

1.       Alkhamisi SA, Ahmed M, editors. Opportunities and Challenges of Using Treated Wastewater in Agriculture. Environmental Cost and Face of Agriculture in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries; 2014 2014//; Cham: Springer International Publishing.
2.       Lyu S, Chen W, Zhang W, Fan Y, Jiao W. Wastewater reclamation and reuse in China: Opportunities and challenges. J Environ Sci (China) 2016;39:86–96. doi:10.1016/j.jes.2015.11.012
3.       Javani H, Liaghat A, Hassanoghli A, Naderi Darbaghshahi M. Application of soil treatment in reducing some compositions in urban retreated wastewater using soil column. Iranian Water Researches Journal 2015;9(2):137-47. [Persian]
4.       Zhao QL, Wang LN, Xue S, Liu ZG, You SJ, Wang SH. [Migration and removal of organic matters in reclaimed wastewater during groundwater recharge]. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao 2007;18(7):1661–4.
5.       Dehghani firoozabady A, Zarei MahmoodAbady h, Ehrampush MH. Investigation on Industrial Waste Waters Reuse of Industrial Towns for Agricultural and Irrigation Uses (Case Study: Treatment Plant of Jahan Abad MeybodIndustrial Town). SSUJ 2017;16(3):46.
6.       Jolaini M, Karimi M, Sadabadi SS. Feasibility of Wastewater Application in Water Resources Management (Case Study: Mashhad Plain). Water Management in Agriculture 2020;6(1):87–94.
7.       Masoudian M, Davoudinejad M. Identifying Training Needs in Agricultural Wastewater Reuse. Water Reuse 2015;1(1):25–35.
8.       Kolivand Z, Ghazimoradi S, Kilanehei F, Omid Naenie ST. Determination of an Appropriate Kinetic Model for Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors in Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment. Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian) 2020;31(5):156–68. doi:10.22093/wwj.2020.207835.2947
9.       Zolfaghary P, Zakerinia M, Kazemi H. Feasibility of unconventional water (municipal wastewater) consumption in agriculture using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). 2020;13:1844–57.
10.   Mojiri A. Effects of municipal wastewater on physical and chemical properties of saline soil. J Biol Environ Sci 2011;5:71–6.
11.   Pirsaheb M, Sharafi K, Dogaohar K. Comparison of Mashhad Aolang wastewater treatment plant effluent with wells water quality for irrigation. Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian). 2012;23(4):116-121.
12.   Rahimi MH, Kalantari N, Sharifidoost M, Kazemi M. Quality assessment of treated wastewater to be reused in agriculture. Global J Environ Sci. Manage. 2018;4(2):217-30. doi:10.22034/gjesm.2018.04.02.009
13.   Rice EW, Bridgewater L, Association APH. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater: American public health association Washington, DC; 2012.
14.   Thapliyal A, Vasudevan P, Dastidar MG, Tandon M, Mishra S. Irrigation with domestic wastewater: responses on growth and yield of ladyfinger Abelmoschus esculentus and on soil nutrients. J Environ Biol 2011;32(5):645–51.
15.   Obotey Ezugbe E, Rathilal S. Membrane Technologies in Wastewater Treatment: A Review. Membranes [Internet]. 2020; 10(5):89.
16.   Metcalf L, Eddy HP, Tchobanoglous G. Wastewater engineering: treatment, disposal, and reuse: McGraw-Hill New York; 1991.
17.   Khodabakhshi A, Mohammadi-Moghadam F, Motaghi K, Bagherzadeh F. Investigating the Feasibility of Reuse of Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plant in Borujen City, Iran, for Agricultural and Irrigation Uses. Journal of Health System Research  2022;18(1):66-74.
18.   Ayers R. Water Quality for Agriculture. 1985.
19.   Baanu BB, Babu KSJ. Irrigation water quality from wastewater reuse or groundwater sources: bridging the water–nutrient–food nexus. AQUA - Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society 2023;72(12):2377–95. doi:10.2166/aqua.2023.390
20.   Anbir L, Noori Z. Investigation of Effluent Quality of Ekbatan Wastewater Treatment Plant for Farm and Green Space Irrigation. Land Management Journal 2018;6(1):95–102. doi:10.22092/lmj.2018.117171
21.   Hatami T, Nadali A, Roshanaei G, Shokoohi R. Feasibility of Reuse of Effluent from the Extended Aeration Process of Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Bojnoord City for Agricultural and Irrigation Uses. umsha-psj 2018;16(3):20. doi:10.21859/psj.16.3.20
22.   Bahrami A, Ahadi F, Bahrami M, Aghamir F. Qualitative assessment of Shiraz wastewater treatment plant effluent for different purposes. Environmental Sciences. 2023;21(2):29-48. doi:10.48308/envs.2023.1151
23.   Panahi M, Rahmani HR, sharifi h. The effects of using treated municipal wastewater on groundwater quality of north of Isfahan. Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research 2023;53(12):2875–84. doi:10.22059/ijswr.2023.343913.669283
24.   Moghadam FM, Mahdavi M, Ebrahimi A, Tashauoei HR, Mahvi AH. Feasibility study of wastewater reuse for irrigation in Isfahan, Iran. Middle-East J Sci Res 2015;23(10):2366-73.
25.   Camberato J. Cation exchange capacity-Everything you want to know and much more. Clemson University, Crop and Soil Environmental Science, USA. 2001.
26.   Nasseri S, Sadeghi T, Vaezi F, Naddafi K. Quality of Ardabil Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent for Reuse in Agriculture. arumshealth 2012;3(3):73.
27.   Razaghi Khamsi B. Effects of the transfer of surface water from the East to the West Tehran on groundwater quality [Thesis]. Tehran, Iran: Faculty of Medical Sciences: Tarbiat Modares University 1999:60-70.
28.   Nasseri S, Sadeghi T, Vaezi F, Naddafi K. Evaluation of possible options for reuse of ardebil wastewater treatment plant effluent. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering. 2008 ;5(4):297-304.
29.   Metcalf, Eddy I, Asano T, Burton FL, Leverenz H, Tsuchihashi R, et al. Water reuse: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing United States of America; 2007.
30.   Farhadkhani M, nikaeen m, Yadegarfar G, Mohammadi-Moghadam F. Evaluation of the microbiological quality of wastewater effluent-irrigated maize. Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences 2020;24:93–105. doi:10.29252/sjku.24.6.93
31.   IMOE I. Environmental criteria of treated waste water and return flow reuse. Office of Deputy for Strategic supervision. 2010(535).
32.   Pendashteh AR, Fakhru’l-Razi A, Madaeni SS, Abdullah LC, Abidin ZZ, Biak DRA. Membrane foulants characterization in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating hypersaline oily wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal 2011;168(1):140–50. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2010.12.053
33.   Qureshi AS, Hussain MI, Ismail S, Khan QM. Evaluating heavy metal accumulation and potential health risks in vegetables irrigated with treated wastewater. Chemosphere 2016;163:54–61. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.07.073
34.   Tetteh EK, Obotey Ezugbe E, Rathilal S, Asante-Sackey D. Removal of COD and SO42− from Oil Refinery Wastewater Using a Photo-Catalytic System—Comparing TiO2 and Zeolite Efficiencies. Water [Internet]. 2020; 12(1):214.
35.   Quist-Jensen CA, Macedonio F, Drioli E. Membrane technology for water production in agriculture: Desalination and wastewater reuse. Desalination 2015;364:17–32. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2015.03.001
36.   Huibers FP, Van Lier JB. Use of wastewater in agriculture: the water chain approach. Irrigation and Drainage 2005;54(S1):S3–S9. doi:10.1002/ird.181
37.   Mishra S, Kumar R, Kumar M. Use of treated sewage or wastewater as an irrigation water for agricultural purposes- Environmental, health, and economic impacts. Total Environment Research Themes 2023;6:100051. doi:10.1016/j.totert.2023.100051
38.   Ofori S, Abebrese DK, Růžičková I, Wanner J. Reuse of Treated Wastewater for Crop Irrigation: Water Suitability, Fertilization Potential, and Impact on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties. Water [Internet]. 2024; 16(3):484.
39.   Libutti A, Gatta G, Gagliardi A, Vergine P, Pollice A, Beneduce L, et al. Agro-industrial wastewater reuse for irrigation of a vegetable crop succession under Mediterranean conditions. Agricultural Water Management 2018;196:1–14. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2017.10.015
40.   Khan S, Cao Q, Zheng YM, Huang YZ, Zhu YG. Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing, China. Environ Pollut 2008;152(3):686–92. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.056
41.   Arora M, Kiran B, Rani S, Rani A, Kaur B, Mittal N. Heavy metal accumulation in vegetables irrigated with water from different sources. Food Chemistry 2008;111(4):811–5. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.04.049
42.   Mapanda F, Mangwayana EN, Nyamangara J, Giller KE. The effect of long-term irrigation using wastewater on heavy metal contents of soils under vegetables in Harare, Zimbabwe. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2005;107(2):151–65. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2004.11.005
43.   Alobaidy A, Al-Sameraiy M, Kadhem A, Majeed A. Evaluation of Treated Municipal Wastewater Quality for Irrigation. Journal of Environmental Protection. 2010;1(3):216-225. doi:10.4236/jep.2010.13026.
44.   Kovda VA, Hagan RM, Berg C. Irrigation, drainage and salinity: an international source book, FAO/UNESCO. 1973.
45.   Organization WH. A regional overview of wasterwater management and reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. 2005. Available from: https://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa759.pdf
46.   Begum S, Rasul MG. Reuse of Stormwater for Watering Gardens and Plants Using Green Gully: A New Stormwater Quality Improvement Device (SQID). Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus 2009;9(5):371–80. doi:10.1007/s11267-009-9226-x
47.   Safa F, Malakutian M. Kord Mostafa Pour F. Assessment of Kerman Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent for Agricultural Use. Journal of Water Research in Agriculture 2014;28(1):119.
48.   Bedbabis S, Trigui D, Ben Ahmed C, Clodoveo ML, Camposeo S, Vivaldi GA, et al. Long-terms effects of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater on soil, yield and olive oil quality. Agricultural Water Management 2015;160:14–21. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2015.06.023
49.   Kahlown MA, Ashraf M, Raoof A, Haq Z. Determination of crop water requirement of major crops under shallow water-table conditions. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Islamabad. 2003.
50.   Brouwer C, Heibloem M. Irrigation water management: irrigation water needs. Training manual 1986;3:1-5.