PJB-2017-153
USE OF AQUATIC PLANTS FOR TREATMENT OF GREYWATER
MEHRUNISA MEMON, HAIDER BUX JATOI, ABDUL MAJID NAREJO, RASOOL BUX MAHAR, ABDUL KHALIQUE ANSARI AND MUHAMMAD IQBAL BHANGER
Abstract
Some aquatic plants have the ability to treat the water there by improving its quality. The main objectives of the study were to introduce the greywater treatment using local plants and secondly to assess its quality for agricultural use. In this regard, vertical flow subsurface constructed wetland units were operated to treat greywater of residential area of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam using three types of plants i.e. Cyperus iria, Phragmites karka and Typha elephantina. Water samples were collected before and after their treatment with each plant. pH and BOD values decreased from 8.32 and 402 mg L-1 in untreated greywater to a minimum of 7.46 and 48 mg L-1 respectively in the one treated by Phragmites karka. The plant species were not effective with regard to EC, TDS and TSS. After recycling, the NO3-N contents remained more or less same, which was the major form of nitrogen in greywater samples, however, it reduced in Cyperus iria and phosphorus in addition to Cyperus iria was recycled under Typha elephantina. Potassium contents in all the cases were more or less similar and increased to small extent. It was concluded that greywater contains significant quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and can be used as a value added fertilizer in agriculture. Phragmites karka was effective in reducing pH, BOD and Cyperus iria in NO3-N. The increase in salt content of treated water may be due to the salt content of soil itself used in reed beds which can be avoided by using soil with low salt content.
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