Suitability of treated wastewater with respect to pH, electrical conductivity, selected cations and sodium adsorption ratio for irrigation in a semi-arid region

Authors

  • Pholosho M Kgopa Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Limpopo Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
  • Phatu W Mashela Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Limpopo Private Bag X 1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
  • Alen Manyevere Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, King William’s Town Rd, Alice 5700, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v44i4.04

Keywords:

cation content, temporal effects, treated wastewater disposal, water scarcity

Abstract

Increasing incidents of drought spells in most Sub-Saharan African countries call for exploration of innovative alternative sources of water for irrigation. A study was conducted to investigate the cation concentrations for different disposal points of treated wastewater and for borehole water. A 4 × 5 factorial experiment included a borehole as a reference sampling site plus three other sampling sites along the wastewater disposal system over 5 months. Monthly collected water samples were analysed for pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Na and K, with sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) computed and compared with those of water from the borehole, the FAO-desired ranges and the South African (SA) quality standards for irrigation water. Except at two sampling sites during one month, pH values were within the FAO-desired range. Relative to the FAO desired ranges and SA water quality standards, most variables in treated wastewater were much lower, suggesting that the test treated wastewater was suitable for irrigation.

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Published

2018-10-31

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 4 October (2018): Water SA

Section

Research paper

License

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

Kgopa, P.M., Mashela, P.W. and Manyevere, A. (2018) “Suitability of treated wastewater with respect to pH, electrical conductivity, selected cations and sodium adsorption ratio for irrigation in a semi-arid region”, Water SA, 44(4 October). doi:10.4314/wsa.v44i4.04.