Irrigation of a golf course with UV-treated wastewater: effects on soil and turfgrass bacteriological quality

Abstract

This research was carried out to assess the impact of treated wastewater irrigation on soil bacteriological and physicochemical properties and turfgrass bacteriological quality. Two golf courses were studied: a golf course A irrigated with freshwater (FW) and a golf course B irrigated with UV-treated wastewater (UV-TW). The physicochemical parameters (electrical conductivity and pH) of the soil were determined. FW, UV-TW, lake-stored water (LSW), turfgrass, and soil were collected, and their bacteriological parameters were determined. These parameters include: Escherichia coli, faecal enterococci, and faecal coliform. The results showed that the soil irrigated with treated wastewater (S-TW) showed a significant increase in the pH when compared with the soil irrigated with freshwater (S-FW). However, no significant difference was recorded in soil electrical conductivity. Faecal indicators concentration of the irrigation water samples varied considerably, and the concentrations in LSW frequently exceed those of the water at the output of the treatment plant (UV-TW). The comparison of the faecal contamination between the two golf courses indicates no significant difference in E. coli and faecal coliform concentrations. However, a significant difference was detected in faecal enterococci contamination. This study confirms that, under appropriate conditions, treated wastewater produced by M'zar wastewater treatment plant can be used as an alternative water resource for golf courses irrigation in Agadir city, Morocco.

The physico-chemical and bacteriological effects of UV-treated wastewater irrigation on soil and turfgrass quality: A case study in a coastal golf course

“…The increase in pH is most noticeable in the period when the soil is irrigated with UV-TW as compared to the period when the soil is irrigated with FW. This result is similar to those reported by Bihadassen et al, (2020) who worked on two golf courses in Agadir, one irrigated with fresh water and the other irrigated with treated wastewater. They observed an increase in pH value following irrigation by treated wastewater.…”

“…Wastewater reuse has been considered a common procedure in many countries around the world and an Amount of research have recognized its efficiency (Mujeriego & Sala, 1991;Mcheik et al, 2017;Bihadassen et al, 2020;Ofori et al, 2021). Wastewater recovery and reuse has been an attractive alternative source of water destined to irrigation (Candela et al, 2007).…”

How to Minimize the Nitrogen Pollution Risk of Applying Reclaimed Sewage for Urban Turfgrass Irrigation

“…Determining the optimal concentration of N in reclaimed sewage to meet the basic requirements of plants while preventing groundwater contamination and excessive N accumulation in the soil poses a major challenge [12]. Some studies on irrigating turfgrass with reclaimed sewage have primarily focused on the effects on soil physicochemical properties (e.g., soil water, salt, and nutrient status) [13,14], turfgrass growth and quality [15,16], microbial community characteristics [17], and environmental pollution risks [18][19][20]. However, there is very limited knowledge of combining different reclaimed sewage irrigation strategies to evaluate the turfgrass water and N dynamics.…”

Different approaches for estimation of the expanded uncertainty of an analytical method developed for determining pharmaceutical active compounds in wastewater using solid-phase extraction and a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method

“…The technologies in tertiary treatment are used to further improve the water quality and the types of technologies to be used will depend on the expected use. 4,5 The prevailing European legislation for wastewater quality requirements for discharge dates to 1991 (ref. 6) and has suffered only minor updates since then, reecting the public mistrust concerning water reuse and safety issues, with treated effluents being viewed just as waste that requires safe discharge into the environment rather than a potentially valuable water resource.…”

“…The technologies in tertiary treatment are used to further improve the water quality and the types of technologies to be used will depend on the expected use. 4,5…”