Low-Quality Irrigation Water Treated Using Waste Biofilters

Although in water-deficient regions, agricultural runoff, drainage water or surplus irrigation water is often used, there are constraints related to its quality to be considered (salinity, nutrients and pollutants). Thus, it is necessary to treat surplus irrigation water considering the low-energy supply systems available to farmers. This work focuses on a nature-based water treatment system consisting of two prototypes of anaerobic bioreactors with horizontal or vertical flow. To enhance the circular economy strategy, two different wastes (coarse sand and almond pruning) were used as bioreactor components. The aim of the research was to monitor the quality of the water (pH, electrical conductivity, suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, alkalinity and bicarbonate, carbonate and nitrogen contents) before and after the treatment. All the parameters studied (except chemical oxygen demand) were reduced by the treatments, but with large variations. Furthermore, there was 100% nitrogen reduction in the horizontal water flow treatment with the filter bed formed by coarse sand and almond pruning. It was observed that the variation in the concentration of some parameters was associated with the type of filter bed (i.e., the C/N ratio of the residue) and with the design for water circulation flow. Although the findings are promising, further research is needed to achieve reductions in all studied parameters.

Automated summary

In water-deficient regions, the quality constraints of agricultural runoff, drainage water or surplus irrigation water need to be considered. This study focuses on a nature-based water treatment system using anaerobic bioreactors with horizontal or vertical flow. Different wastes were used as bioreactor components to enhance the circular economy strategy. The research aimed to monitor the water quality before and after treatment and found reductions in most parameters, especially nitrogen with the combination of coarse sand and almond pruning as a filter bed in horizontal water flow. Further research is needed to achieve reductions in all studied parameters.