Feasibility study of using wastewater treatment plant in irrigation

The aim of this research was to the feasibility of reuse of Bushehr wastewater treatment plant sewage in Conocarpus lancifolius irrigation. To evaluate the microbial and plant growth characteristics, two treatments including irrigation with wastewater and irrigation with drinking water were used. 120 C. lancifolius samples, 90 samples with wastewater and 30 samples with drinking water, were irrigated for 6 months by sprinkler irrigation. Growth indices (stem length and diameter) and leaf microbial quality were measured at the end of each irrigation month. pH was measured using pH meter, electrical conductivity was measured using EC meter. Calcium and magnesium were determined using titrimetric tests. The concentrations of iron and manganese were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometer and the concentrations of phosphorus phosphate, nitrogen nitrite and nitrogen nitrate were determined using ultraviolet spectrophotometer, total coliform and fecal coliform using MPN standard method. The results showed that due to irrigation with urban wastewater, growth indices of C. lancifolius are significantly higher than irrigation with drinking water (P <0.05). The microbial contamination of the wastewater used was less than the standard of the Environmental Protection Agency of Iran for reuse in irrigation of urban green spaces.