ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.
If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, view access and subscription options

EFFECT OF GRAYWATER ON SOIL HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  701P0104,  . (doi: 10.13031/2013.15780)
Authors:   Aziz Amoozegar, Stuart Warren, Christopher Niewoehner, Wayne Robarge, Michael Hoover, Dean Hesterberg, and Robert Rubin
Keywords:   Wastewater Graywater, Hydraulic Conductivity, Laundry Wastewater

Graywater from single-family homes can potentially be used on-site for irrigation of ornamental plants. This study was to assess the impact of wastewater from the laundry and dishwashing machines on soil hydraulic conductivity. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) of a sandy soil, the Bt of a clayey soil, and one saprolite was measured in the laboratory using tap water and wastewaters from the laundry and dishwashing machines of a number of households. In addition, Ksat of each of the soils and saprolite was measured using six solutions containing 150, 500, and 1000 mg/L sodium and 40 mg, 1 g, and 2 g/L of Biosoft S-120 (a common surfactant) neutralized with sodium hydroxide. The Ksat of the soils and saprolite was not impacted by water. Wastewater from laundry and dishwashing machines, however, substantially reduced the Ksat of the soils within four days after wastewater application. All six sodium and surfactant solutions negatively impacted the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the clayey soil. The Ksat of the sand for the sodium solutions was initially increased before declining, but the Ksat of the saprolite showed a substantial increase during 12 days of measurements. For the 40-mg/L surfactant solution, Ksat of the sand decreased while Ksat of the saprolite increased by 20% after 11 days. The 2-g/L surfactant solution substantially reduced the conductivity of the soils and saprolite within the first 24 to 48 hours. From these results, it appears that the surfactant in laundry detergent may play an important role in causing substantial reduction in soil hydraulic conductivity following wastewater application.

(Download PDF)    (Export to EndNotes)