Sewage wastewater is one of the richest sources of mineral nutrients contributing toward plant growth and yield. However, the accumulation of heavy metals in the edible parts of vegetables and fruits can be dangerous to life. The current research aimed to evaluate the performance of a sand column filter for the elimination of heavy metals from sewage wastewater applied to selected vegetables. The contents of heavy metals, i.e., Pb+2, Ni+2, Cu+2, and Fe+2, were estimated to be higher in untreated sewage wastewater than in treated water. The number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of leaves, roots, and total biomass of lettuce, carrot, and cauliflower were improved due to the irrigation of unfiltered sewage wastewater compared to sewage wastewater. The curd diameter, fresh and dry weights of curd, stem fresh weight of cauliflower, and the root length and diameter of carrot increased after irrigation with the unfiltered sewage wastewater in comparison to the treated sewage wastewater. The accumulation of heavy metals, i.e., Pb+2, Ni+2, Cu+2, and Fe+2, was higher in the roots, leaves, and edible parts of the selected vegetables. In the present study, the Cd+2 and Cr+2 concentrations were not affected by the filtration process through a sand column filter. Conclusively, filtration through a sand column filter is effective for the removal of heavy metals from sewage wastewater used to irrigate agricultural land.

Sewage wastewater is rich in mineral nutrients contributed in plant growth and yield. However, accumulation of heavy metals in edible part of vegetables and fruits is dangerous for human health. Current research was conducted with aim to evaluate the performance of sand column filter for removal of heavy metals from sewage wastewater applied to the selected vegetables. Heavy metals content i.e. Pb, Ni, Cu and Fe were estimated higher in untreated sewage wastewater as compared to treated water. Number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of leaves, roots and total biomass of lettuce, carrot and cauliflower were improved due to irrigation of unfiltered sewage wastewater as compared to sewage wastewater. Curd diameter, fresh and dry weights of curd, and stem fresh weight of cauliflower, root length and diameter of carrot enhanced because of unfiltered sewage wastewater than treated sewage wastewater. The accumulation of heavy metals i.e. Pb, Ni, Cu and Fe was higher in roots, leaves and edible parts of the selected vegetables. In the present study, Cd and Cr concentrations were not affected from filtration process through sand column filter. Conclusively, filtration through sand column filter is very effective for removal of heavy metals from sewage wastewater to irrigate agricultural lands.