908. Assessing the Potential of a Multi-Layer Filtration System to Address TDS and EC Challenges in Treated Wastewater for Irrigation
Invited abstract in session TB-39: Sustainability & Infrastructure Systems, stream Sustainable & Resilient Systems and Infrastructures.
Tuesday, 10:30-12:00Room: Newlyn LG.01
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Syed Muzzamil Hussain Shah
|
| Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Membranes and Water Security, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals |
Abstract
The agricultural sector faces challenges in efficient water management, particularly in arid regions experiencing severe shortages. Treated wastewater (TWW) is increasingly utilized for irrigation to conserve freshwater, offering both benefits and risks due to potential contaminants. This study assessed key water quality parameters—pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, and total dissolved solids (TDS)—in TWW samples from retention tanks in an irrigation zone in Al-Qatif. A cost-effective, multi-layer filtration system using locally available materials was then tested. The setup included sand, gravel, date palm fibers, and activated carbon, with variables such as filter depth, fiber volume, and media size evaluated over 96 hours, with effluent collected every 24 hours. The sand-gravel (SG) setup improved water quality moderately, achieving 12.8%, 15.36%, and 15.53% removal for salinity, EC, and TDS, respectively. Adding date palm fiber slightly enhanced removal to 17.52% (salinity), 18.62% (EC), and 19.14% (TDS). Incorporating activated carbon yielded the highest efficiencies, reaching 18.14% (salinity), 19.2% (EC), and 19.6% (TDS). However, overall reductions remained modest, with activated carbon providing only incremental gains.
Keywords
- Water Management
Status: accepted
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