Treated Wastewater Impact on Rural Green Farm Life Cycle, Egypt

El Awady, M. Hamdy; Marzouk, Neama; Bakry, Bakry; Abdel Rahman, Hamdy M; Kenawy, Amany

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2017.1379.1090

Treated Wastewater Impact on Rural Green Farm Life Cycle, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Water pollution research department, environmental research division, National Research Centre

² 2Vegetable Res. Dept, Agricultural REs. Division, NRC

³ Crops Res. Dept, Agricultural Res Division, NRC

⁴ Genetics and Cytology Dept, NRC

⁵ Hydrobiology Dept., NRC

10.21608/ejchem.2017.1379.1090

Abstract

Treated effluent from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) offers significant water demand in all areas of activities in rural farm. This research evaluates the reuse of secondary treated wastewater (STWW) for irrigating crops, fresh vegetables and feeding fish farm. Physico-chemical, heavy metals and cytogenetic have been investigated. Intensive analyses of crops seeds, vegetables components, soil, dried sludge and fish organisms have been carried out. Results showed that the characteristics of secondary treated wastewater can be used for crops plantation and fish farming. Cytogenetic studies using Alliums’ bio-tests were investigated. The concentrations of each: Cr, Pb, Co, Se, Ni, Cu, and Zn in STWW was less than 0.1 mg/l. Carbon content, nitrogen, and phosphorous were: 6.0; 1.2; and 0.1 mg/l, respectively fulfilling the requirements C: N: P ratios for plant growth. Results showed also that the irrigated crops and vegetables exhibited good growth. Analyses of roots, stems, leaves, seeds and sludge showed metals concentrations were within the permissible range. Tilapia fish showed noticeable vitality. Parasitological examination of fish revealed no parasitic cysts detected in the skin, gills and intestine, respectively. It showed no bacterial strains isolated from fish tissues. Macroscopically parameters as root length and shape look normal and healthy, while microscopically parameters showed no change of mitotic index, RDR, phase index, chromosomal aberrations of the bioassay plant tissues and do not stimulate specific type of chromosomal aberrations as well as percentage of chromosomal aberrations. All studied parameters were found in normal limits when compared with control values. This indicated the efficiency of the treatment system; hence STWW has no mutagenicity or cytotoxicity effects. Examined parameters in this study were found in normal limits if compared with trigger levels of treated wastewater.

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