Irrigation with municipal waste water is a suitable disposal option in all regions where additional moisture can be effectively utilized for improved crop production. Waste water loading is to be based on the consumptive water use of the crop being grown. The primary objective should be enhancement of crop production. The root zone of productive soils can often serve as one of the most active media for the decomposition, immobilization, or utilization of wastes.

1. P.A.Vinoth Kumar ( BTG-12-039 )
D.Vijaya Sowmiya ( BTG-12-038 )
S.Vignesh ( BTG-12-037 )
Treated Wastewater for
Irrigation

2. Presentation
8/6/15-Monday
1. Topic Analyzing
2. Objectives
3. Farm Level & Evaluation of WW
4. Permit Requirements
5. Quality of Wastewater
6. Irrigation Methods
7. Conclusion
8. Reference

3. Topic Analyze
• Irrigation with municipal wastewater is a suitable disposal
option in all regions where additional moisture can be
effectively utilized for improved crop production.
Wastewater loading is to be based on the consumptive
water use of the crop being grown.
• The primary objective should be enhancement of crop
production. The root zone of productive soils can often
serve as one of the most active media for the decomposition,
immobilization, or utilization of wastes.

4. Objectives
• To avoid wastewater discharge across privately-owned
lands or into intermittent watercourses.
• As an alternative to nutrient or phosphorus removal,
where required.
• As an alternative to exceptionally high treatment
requirements.
• To provide a water supply for food crops, non-food
crops and golf course irrigation.

5. Farm Level
• The required amount of water should be applied.
• The water should be of acceptable quality.
• Water application should be properly scheduled.
• Appropriate irrigation methods should be used.
• Salt in the root zone should be prevented by means
of leaching.
• The rise of water table should be controlled by means of
appropriate drainage and Plant nutrients should be
managed in an optimal way.

6. When Evaluating wastewater for irrigation use
• Identify physical, biological, and chemical constituents that may be a
potential environmental or health-based concern.
• Development of appropriate protocols for determining land areas that
are suitable to receive municipal wastewater for irrigation.
• Determination of the appropriate annual wastewater loading rates, the
frequency, duration and method of application, as well as the period
over which such applications can occur.
• Inclusion of a process that will ensure there is appropriate technical
review of valid neighborhood stakeholder concerns.

7. Permit Requirements
• Permit to construct, extend or alter any treated
wastewater irrigation works must be obtained from
the Water Security Agency (WSA) before starting
construction of such works.
• Treated wastewater irrigation projects may will
require a hydrogeological investigation based on
irrigated volumes and long-term effects on soil and
groundwater.
• Soil certification and an assessment of long-term soil
and groundwater effects will be required. The water
table in the irrigation area must be sufficiently deep to

8. Design Guidelines
Wastewater Treatment
The minimum treatment requirement as per
Guidelines for Sewage Works Design (EPB 203) shall
be as follows:
• Lagoons followed by a storage cell of holding at least
210-230 days of sewage flow.
• Secondary treatment with adequate storage
facilities.
• Disinfection may be required prior to irrigation
based on the type of reuse.

9. Soils & Topography
• The chemical, physical and morphological
characteristics of a soil must be compatible to
irrigation with a particular wastewater. It is important
to minimize soil degradation to ensure that lands
irrigated with treated wastewater benefit from
irrigation and will retain productivity. The soil should
not receive harmful quantities of undesirable elements
and substances.
• The physical properties of soil texture and structure
are important features when evaluating the use of
treated wastewater for irrigation. Careful
consideration should be given to permeability, since
the suitability of soil for irrigation depends on the

10. Natural Irrigation Water Quality Characterization
• Electrical conductivity (EC): Is a reliable indicator of the total
dissolved solids content of the water. The addition of irrigation
water to soils adds to the concentration of salt in the soil.
Concentration of these salts will result in an increase in osmotic
osmotic potential in the soil solution interfering with extraction of
extraction of water by the plants. Toxic effects may also result with
with an increase in salinity. EC is measured in ds m-1
• Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR): Is an indicator of the sodium
hazard of water. Excess sodium in relation to calcium and
magnesium concentrations in soils destroys soil structure that

11. • Boron - Toxicity due to specific ions such as boron
occurs when the ion is taken up by the plant and
accumulates in the plant in amounts that result in
damage or reduced yields. Discharges from industrial
plants and household detergents are the common
source for boron in wastewater; other ions of most
concern in wastewater are sodium and chloride.

12. The General parameters are those that are analyzed to assess the
effectiveness of the wastewater treatment process and to evaluate
variability in the quality of the wastewater prior to its release to the
environment.
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) typically ranges from 10
mg/L for most municipal wastewaters. Values below 100 mg/L
restriction to irrigation use.
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS) typically ranges from 10 to 20
most municipal wastewaters. Values below 100 mg/L pose no
restriction to irrigation use.
• Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) typically ranges from 25 to
for most municipal wastewaters. Values below 150 mg/L pose no
restriction to irrigation use.
• pH typically ranges from 6.5 to 8.5 for most municipal
These values are comparable to most natural surface waters and
are considered to pose no restriction to irrigation use.

13. Irrigation Methods
• Flood irrigation - water is applied over the entire field to infiltrate into
the soil (e.g. wild flooding, contour flooding, borders, basins, etc.).
• Furrow irrigation - water is applied between ridges, water reaches the
ridge, where the plant roots are concentrated, by capillary action.
• Sprinkler irrigation - water is applied in the form of a spray and
reaches the soil very much like rain (e.g. portable and solid set
sprinklers, travelling sprinklers, spray guns, center-pivot systems, etc.).
etc.). The rate of application is adjusted so that it does not create
ponding of water on the surface.
Many different methods are used by farmers to irrigate crops. They range from
watering individual plants from a can of water to highly automated irrigation by
a Centre pivot system.

14. • Sub-irrigation - water is applied beneath the root zone
in such a manner that it wets the root zone by capillary
capillary rise (e.g. subsurface irrigation canals, buried
buried pipes, etc.)Deep surface canals or buried pipes
pipes are used for this purpose.
• Localized irrigation - water is applied around each
plant or a group of plants so as to wet locally and the
root zone only (e.g. drip irrigation, bubblers, micro-
sprinklers, etc.) The application rate is adjusted to meet
meet evapotranspiration needs so that percolation losses

15. Conclusion
• In this respect National and International Institutions,
universities and research centres have an important role in
both research and training needed for a safe and efficient
wastewater use for agriculture.
• The goal of such joint work should be also directed towards
the establishment of successful networks categorized
according to their purposes which range from information
exchange to collaborative planning, implementation and
monitoring of research activities in the field of
unconventional water resources.

16. Reference
• Alberta Environmental Protection, 1997. Standards and Guidelines for
Municipal Waterworks, Wastewater and Storm Drainage Systems.
Edmonton, Alberta.
• Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD). 1999.
Standards for the Classification of Land for Irrigation in the Province of
Alberta. Lethbridge.
• American Society of Agronomy. 1965. Methods of Soil Analysis Part 1,
Agronomy
• Agriculture Canada Research Branch. The Canadian System of Soil
Classification.

17. Thank You