Evaluation of Agricultural Suitability of Wastewater for Irrigation for Some Sewerage Stations in Ramadi – Iraq

Abstract

This study aims to examine the suitability of water for agricultural irrigation in some sewerage plants, and thus, reduce of pollution in Euphrates River waters. Three sewerage stations on Euphrates River are selected to compare their wastewater traits with international dependent values in order to state their suitability for irrigation. Some of chemical properties of wastewater are measured as; chemical oxygen demand COD, biological oxygen demand BOD, hydrogen potential pH and electrical conductivity EC, in addition to concentrations of; chloride Cl, ferrous Fe, cadmium Cd, and plumb Pb. All the studied properties of wastewater have significant differences for the three various sites and sources stations in comparison with river water. The values of pH are varied from 7.06 to 8.25 as neutral to alkaline. Nevertheless, the values of EC are much higher (C₃ class) and they are unsuitable for irrigation compared with river water, however, only the C₁ concentration lies within the permitted limits of river water. COD and BOD were much higher than normal limits in wastewater of the three stations compared with river water; such increase makes them unsuitable for agricultural irrigation. The concentrations of Fe, Cd, and Pb heavy micronutrients are much higher in all wastewater samples.