UTILIZATION OF PLANT LEAVES TO TREAT WASTEWATER FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSE

Abstract

This study focuses on the remediation of wastewater both grey and black water to be used in agricultural purposes in Pakistan, a country which is likely to suffer severe clean water shortage due to rapid growth of population caused by urbanization. It has become the need of time to remediate wastewater so that it can be used where applicable such as agriculture. Inadequate and unprocessed disposal of wastewater from homes and industries causes both health risks for humans as well as wildlife and environmental challenges. By conducting this study, we can observe the effectiveness of using macrophytes, specifically duckweed, in a bench-scale wastewater treatment model to reduce pollutants to concentrations allowable to be utilized in agriculture, in accordance with FAO directives. The study has been conducted in five experimental intervals with different Hydraulic Retention Times (HRTs) of 0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, measuring reductions in Electroconductivity (ECw), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Dissolved Solids Concentration (TDS) and other key parameters. Recorded results and data showed drastic reductions across all characteristics, with TDS and ECw concentrations reduced by up to 35% and SAR by over 40% after 10 days of HR. The results suggest that 10-day hydraulic retention time with macrophytes especially Duckweed provides solution to various environmental challenges by carbon sequestration ultimately reducing the hazardous consequences of disposal of wastewater without any treatment. By implicating the methodologies conducted in this research, environmental policies and practices can be designed to overcome water shortage caused by use of freshwater or groundwater which is conventionally being used for irrigation purposes in Pakistan.