TITLE:
Irrigation of Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Using Wastewater Treated by Non-Conventional Technologies
AUTHORS:
Manuel Enrique López Sepúlveda, Santiago Gutiérrez Ruiz, Antonio Liñeiro Bullón, José María Quiroga Alonso
KEYWORDS:
Reclamation, Reutilisation, Small Communities, Intermittent Sand Filters, Infiltration-Percolation, Stabilisation Ponds, Artificial Wetlands
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.5 No.5B,
November
17,
2017
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the capacity for reuse of wastewater treated in stabilisation ponds and subsequently reclaimed by means of different filtration systems at pilot scale. An analysis of filtered water showed turbidity values of below 5 NTU, a total suspended solids (TSS) content of 7 mg/l, and Escherichia coli values of up to 1.6 log CFU/100 ml. These results fall within the parameters stipulated in RD 1620/2007 Spanish Water Reuse Regulations governing the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for agricultural purposes. The water reclaimed by means of filtration systems was used to irrigate Romainelettuce (Lactuca sativa longifolia), comparing growth with that of the same variety irrigated with water from the supply network. The results showed a mean difference in lettuce growth of up to 300% in favour of the crop irrigated with reclaimed water.