Irrigated greywater in an urban sub-division as a potential source of metals to soil, groundwater and surface water.
J Environ Manage
; 183(Pt 3): 806-817, 2016 Dec 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27658657
ABSTRACT
Increased water demands in dry countries such as Australia, have led to increased adoption of various water reuse practices. Irrigation of greywater (all water discharged from the bathrooms, laundry and kitchen apart from toilet waste) is seen as a potential means of easing water demands; however, there is limited knowledge of how greywater irrigation impacts terrestrial and aquatic environments. This study compared four greywater irrigated residential lots to adjacent non-irrigated lots that acted as controls. Accumulation and potential impacts of metals in soil, groundwater and surface water, as a result of greywater irrigation, were assessed by comparing measured concentrations to national and international guidelines. Greywater increased concentrations of some metals in irrigated soil and resulted in As, B, Cr and Cu exceeding guidelines after only four years of irrigation. Movement of metals from the irrigation areas resulted in metal concentrations in groundwater (Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) and surface water (Cu, Fe and Zn) exceeding environmental quality guidelines again within four years. These results are unlikely to be universally applicable but indicate the need to consider metals in greywater in order to minimize potential adverse environmental effects from greywater irrigation.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminantes del Suelo
/
Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
/
Riego Agrícola
/
Metales
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
País como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article