Treated wastewater suitability for reuse in comparison to groundwater and surface water in a peri-urban area: Implications for water quality management

Lallébila Tampo; Seyf-Laye Alfa-Sika Mande; Abimbola Olumide Adekanmbi; Goumpoukini Boguido; Kossitse Venyo Akpataku; Massabalo Ayah; Ibrahim Tchakala; Masamaèya D T Gnazou; Limam Moctar Bawa; Gbandi Djaneye-Boundjou; Elliot Haruna Alhassan

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152780

Treated wastewater suitability for reuse in comparison to groundwater and surface water in a peri-urban area: Implications for water quality management

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 1:815:152780. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152780. Epub 2022 Jan 1.

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, BP 1515, Togo. Electronic address: charlestampo@gmail.com.
² Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, BP 1515, Togo; Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Kara, BP 404, Togo; Beijing Key Laboratory of Water Resources & Environmental Engineering, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China.
³ Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
⁴ Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, BP 1515, Togo.
⁵ Laboratory of Applied Hydrology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, BP 1515, Togo; Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Kara, BP 404, Togo.
⁶ Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Biosciences, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana.

PMID: 34982995
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152780

Abstract

The climate change and population growth led to a severe water shortage that limits fresh water availability in some areas of Togo. Thus, the farmers of Adjougba District have no other choice than using treated wastewater as an alternative for irrigated agriculture. The purpose of this study is to compare the suitability of three types of water for uses with identification of the reliable parameters in the assessment of water suitability for irrigation and domestic purposes. The raw water quality parameters, water quality indices (WQIs) and water suitability indicators for irrigation purpose (WSI-IPs) were applied for the comparison while statistical analysis and, with some experts' consensus were used to identify reliable parameters. The results suggested that the treated wastewater is more suitable than groundwater for irrigation purpose. Treated wastewater constitutes a viable fertilizer supply and is placed like surface water from permissible to excellent classes according to WSI-IPs values. The sodium absorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Cl^- and faecal coliforms (FC) are the most reliable parameters in the detection of water suitability for irrigation purpose. EC, DO, pH, turbidity or TSS, COD or COD_Mn, hardness, FC, NO₃^-, national sanitation foundation's water quality index (NSFWQI), and overall index of pollution (OPI) are the most reliable in the detection of water suitability for domestic use. The reliable parameters identified in this study are potential candidates for the development of a single water quality index for both irrigation and domestic uses in Adjougba District. However further study will be necessary for the identification of reliable parameters and the development of a water quality index at the country scale.

Keywords: Adjougba District; Irrigation/domestic use; Reliable parameters; Treated wastewater; Water quality index; Water suitability indicators.

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring
Groundwater*
Wastewater
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Quality
Water Supply

Substances

Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical