The objectives of this study were to monitor and analyse water quality and soil property in paddy fields where untreated wastewater is irrigated. Three paddy fields where streamflow mixed with untreated wastewater has been irrigated (untreated wastewater district, UWD) were selected for monitoring, and five paddy fields in Yongin area (Yongin district, YID) where water from Idong agricultural reservoir (well-managed) has been irrigated were selected for comparative evaluation. Electronic conductivity (EC), suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (T-N), total phosphorous (T-P), NO3-N, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), and E. coli of the irrigation water in the UWD were significantly higher than those in the YID. Relatively high concentrations of EC, T-N, T-P, TC, FC, E. coli, copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and aluminium (Al) were shown in the irrigation water of the UWD especially during May to June. In general, the paddy soil in the UWD contained more Pb, Zn, and Cu than in the YID although the soil heavy metal contents in the UWD still meet the Korean soil contamination warning standards. No temporal trends in the heavy metal concentrations were found in paddy soils of the UWD. This study showed that the use of untreated wastewater to paddy fields has the possibility of negative impacts on water quality and soil, although long-term monitoring is needed to fully evaluate its effects.

The objectives of this study were to monitor and assess the environmental impacts of indirect wastewater reuse on water quality and soil in paddy fields. Yongin monitoring site (YI) irrigated from agricultural reservoir and Osan monitoring site (OS) irrigated with treated wastewater diluted with stream water were selected as control and treatment, respectively. Monitoring results for irrigation water quality showed a significant statistical difference in salinity, exchangeable cation and nutrients. Pond water quality showed a similar tendency with irrigation water except for the decreased difference in nutrients due to the fertilization impact. Soil chemical properties mainly influenced by fertilization activity such as T-N, T-P, and P2O5 were changed similarly in soil profiles of both monitoring sites, while the properties, EC, Ca, Mg, and Na, mainly effected by irrigation water quality showed a considerable change with time and soil depth in treatment plots. Heavy metal contents in paddy soil of both control and treatment did not exceed the soil contamination warning standards. This study could contribute to suggest the irrigation water quality standards and proper agricultural practices including fertilization for indirect wastewater reuse, although long-term monitoring is needed to get more scientific results.

The objectives of this study were to develop a linked watershed-waterbody modeling system and to assess the impacts of indirect wastewater reuse on irrigation water quality. The Osan stream watershed within Gyeonggi-do of South Korea was selected for this study. The linked modeling system was composed of the SWAT (Soil and water assessment tool) and QUALKO2 models. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the stream discharge and water quality data from 2010 to 2011. Runoff and non-point source pollutants from each subbasin and stream discharge from 1980 to 2009 were simulated by the SWAT model and applied to the QUALKO2 model. The QUALKO2 model was calibrated and validated under the conditions of low water and normal discharges, respectively. Finally, The 10-day irrigation water quality from April to September was simulated. The statistical measures of coefficient of determination (R 2 ), reliability index (RI), and efficiency index (EI) were used to evaluate the system performance. The R 2 , RI and EI values ranged from 0.5 to 1.0, 1.03 to 1.92, and -35.03 to 0.95, respectively. The 10-day irrigation water quality showed the concentrations of BOD and coliform exceeded the water quality guidelines for wastewater reuse. The linked modeling system can be a useful tool to estimate non-point source pollutant loads in watershed and to control the water quality of effluent from a wastewater treatment plant and irrigation water in the downstream waterbody.

Many studies have reported additional treatment is needed to use wastewater for agricultural purpose. Economic considerations should be taken into account to establish infrastructure for agricultural reuse because of a large amount of water use in irrigation and relatively low water quality requirement. The objective of this study was to conduct economic analysis of wastewater reclamation and reuse systems for agriculture. A system dynamics approach considering complexity and dynamics in the wastewater reuse systems was used for the economic analysis, which are related with social, environmental, and economic problems. Sensitivity and benefit cost analysis for wastewater reuse systems was conducted through the established economic assessment model. The result of sensitivity analysis showed that water resources development and installation cost were the most sensitive for total benefits and costs, respectively. The scenario-based test of the organized economic assessment model shows marginal cost ranges and enables decision-makers to decide reasonable cost for the wastewater reuse systems for agriculture.

Probability distribution of microbes in wastewater is a crucial factor to be determined for microbial risk assessment associated with its reuse. The objective of this study was to investigate probability distribution of an indicator microorganism in wastewater. Daily total coliform counts measured from nationwide wastewater treatment plants in 2010 by the Ministry of Environment were used for statistical analysis. Basic statistics and probability distributions were estimated in the three different spatial scales using the MS Excel software and FARD2006 model. Overall, wastewater from manure and livestock treatment plants demonstrated greater median coliform counts than from sewage and village treatment plants. Generalized logistic (GLO) and 2-parameter Weibull (WBU2) appeared to be the two probability distributions that fitted best for total coliform numbers in wastewater. The study results of microbial statistics and probability distributions would provide useful data for quantitative assessment of microbial risk from agricultural wastewater reuse.Keywords: Wastewater; total coliform counts; optimal probability distribution; generalized logistic distribution; Weibull distribution