An analysis of the possibility of reusing the purified sewage of the Islamic Azad University, Roudehen branch,for the irrigation of the green fields in the campus

Water shortage in Iran and other dry lands is considered as one of obstacles against the expansion of the green fields. In addition, the population growth and the increasing environmental pollutions intensify the essence of finding solutions for water shortage problem. Purified sewage is considered as one of the most economical and available water resources for irrigation in most of the countries which deal with this problem given that this kind of water is rich in the elements required for plants. Considering the aforementioned points, the present study was carried out in an attempt to investigate the application of Roudehen University Sewage Purification Plant and the possibility of using its effluent wastewater for the irrigation of the green fields in the campus. Accordingly, twenty-two parameter values, i.e. pH, CO3, EC, DO, BOD, COD, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, Na, K, TS, TSS, PO4, P, NO2, NO3, NH3, NH4, NH3-N, and MPN were measured in the raw and purified sewage over a 3-month period, using ASTM and single-sample t-test measurement procedures. The obtained results were compared with the criteria and standards of the Organization of the Environmental Protection of Iran for using sewage in irrigation and agriculture. The results indicated that the quality of the purified sewage, except for the MPN and TSS parameters, conformed to the standards. The exclusion of the BOD and COD parameters respectively increased the suitability of Roudehen University Sewage Purification Plant‟s effluent to 71.1 and 69.9 percents. The average amounts of EC and SAR in sewage plant‟s effluent were 1730.8 and 4.41, 49.2 μs/cm respectively. In sum, the results indicated that the purified sewage can be used in small amounts for the irrigation of the plants which are resistant to salinity.