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ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE UNTREATED URBAN WASTEWATER IRRIGATED SITES – A CASE STUDY

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

Citation:  2020 ASABE Annual International Virtual Meeting  2001193.(doi:10.13031/aim.202001193)
Authors:   S.R. Thiruchelve, Chandran S, P Logesh Kumar, Kumar Veluswamy
Keywords:   Accumulation, heavy metal, impact assessment, irrigation, wastewater

Abstract. Due to the limited availability of fresh water for irrigation and the difficulties of inefficient management of wastewater, developing countries like India, which is the second-largest agriculture producer, have started to use wastewater, especially sewage water used for irrigation of agriculture fields. Though the domestic wastewater consider for agriculture has good potential of the nutrient load overuse of domestic wastewater without proper treatment may result in severe environmental and health impacts. Many studies worldwide have been done to assess the effects of wastewater irrigation, and one such attempt is this study. The objective of the current study is to analyze the quality of wastewater used for irrigation and its level of contamination in soil and its effect on plants and groundwater in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is a city where nearly 80% of the wastewater generated in the city is let drain through the above channels towards outskirt of Madurai city and utilized for irrigation. Samples of wastewater, groundwater, soil, and plant where collected from the study site and assessed for contamination. Results of samples were compared with CPCB, FAO, WHO standards. Through the analysis of samples, it is identified that groundwater is highly influenced by contamination. The concentration of trace elements in wastewater, soil, and plants is found within standards, but if the trend of wastewater is continued for decades, the study area with face severe environmental and human health impact soon. Hence it is planned to do continuous monitoring of the study site and proper a suitable remediation strategy in a future study.

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