First assessment of water quality of an artificial lake for fish culture and irrigation: A case study of water reuse in water shortage area across the Middle East

Abstract

Although the application of treated wastewater in irrigation is a common practice in Jordan, there are no studies on its use in fish culture. In this study, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of an artificial lake containing mixture of treated wastewater and rainwater were assessed to examine whether the nutrient loading is sufficient for fish culture. The study also evaluated the suitability of the lake's water quality for irrigation after fish farming. The study was conducted in outdoor tanks fed with water from the artificial lake and stocked with three types of fish (Tilapia, Carp and Koi). The diversity of phytoplankton communities in the lake's produces natural food for Carp and Koi and promotes their growth with maximum per cent survival of 89% and 56% respectively. In addition, remarkable improvement in all water quality parameters after fish culture was observed.

Assessment of the Zooplankton Community and Water Quality in an Artificial Freshwater Lake from a Semi-Arid Area (Irbid, Jordan)

“…In zooplankton grazing estimations, Cladocera and Copepoda are mostly taken into account while the impact of Rotifera is neglected [65]. The introduction of aquaculture species, such as carp and koi, which are phytoplanktivorous, will strengthen the top-down control over phytoplankton, resulting in a decrease in their biomass [21] and a successive reduction of the lake's trophic status. In fact, fish can control the trophic state of a lake [66]; a preceding study showed that fish koi and common carp were successfully reared in outdoor tanks filled with water from the JUST lake [21].…”

“…The introduction of aquaculture species, such as carp and koi, which are phytoplanktivorous, will strengthen the top-down control over phytoplankton, resulting in a decrease in their biomass [21] and a successive reduction of the lake's trophic status. In fact, fish can control the trophic state of a lake [66]; a preceding study showed that fish koi and common carp were successfully reared in outdoor tanks filled with water from the JUST lake [21]. To avoid any accidental interaction (ingestion) between fish and zooplankton, however, a plant could be realized using water from the JUST lake, where fish could decrease the phytoplankton content of the water; it could be contemporaneously reared for aquaculture while avoiding participation in the trophic charge of the lake.…”

“…The average annual rainfall of the site is 465 mm. The morphometric and other basic characteristics of the JUST lake are described elsewhere [21]. Samples were collected in winter (February 2019) and summer (July 2019) from ten stations equidistant of an average of 50 m (Figure 1).…”

Sustainable Design of an Artificial Lake in Jafer Basin Based on Gravity Flow

“…It is noted that the unique topography of the basin allows for the creation of a large lake, which can be beneficial in many ways; Holguin Pena et al [1] reviewed the potential of growing saline crops in desert areas for food, fodder and biofuels production to meet human demand. AbuDalo et al [2] assessed the characteristics of an artificial lake containing mixture of treated wastewater and rainwater to examine whether the nutrient loading is sufficient for fish culture. Due to the scarcity of fresh water in the country, the only option to create the lake is to draw seawater from the GoA, which can be done via an underground tunnel, so as not to disrupt the environment with a huge and long pipeline.…”