WASTEWATER STATUS AND UTILIZATION IN MYMENSINGH PERIURBAN AREA ● Md. Parvez Islam MS Student Dept. of Bio-mechanical Systems ● Lab of Environmental Informatics.

WASTEWATER STATUS AND UTILIZATION IN MYMENSINGH PERIURBAN AREA

● Md. Parvez IslamMS StudentDept. of Bio-mechanical Systems

● Lab of Environmental Informatics and ControlFaculty of AgricultureEhime University, Matsuyama, JapanE-mail: [email protected]&

● Assistant Professor ● Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery ● Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202 ● E-mail:[email protected]● Web: http://parvezfpm.webs.com/ ● http://www.bau.edu.bd/php/cv.php?id=10503602

Acknowledgement: TTZ, Germany and Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, BAU

Fig.1. Wastewater is coming out from the municipal area Fig.2. Wastewater outlet at Maskanda area

Present scenario of wastewater and trees in Mymensingh periurban area:

Fig.3. Irrigation by raising water level and by using CF pump

Fig.4.Irrigation by manual method

Fig.6. Wastewater passing through channel covered with waterhyacinth

Fig.5. Wastewater in wetland

Fig.7. Catching fish

Fig.8 Biodiversity – crop production, fish cultivation and duck farming at Maskanda’2005

Fig.9 Wastewater flow restricts by solid waste

Area pH EC, μs/cm TDS, ppt NH4, mg/l PO4, mg/l

Mean 4.5018 1099.4545 0.4545 70 57.2727

STD 0.67425 139.80658 0.10473 52.38977 57.19335

STD error 0.11737 24.33720 0.01823 9.11989 9.95608 M

aska

nda

CV(%) 14.97722 12.71599 23.04159 74.84252 99.86141

Mean 4.6539 989.8788 0.4482 20.9091 111.6364

STD 0.88583 31.75075 0.07630 24.17173 88.41939

STD error 0.15420 5.52710 0.01328 4.20776 15.39184 Vat

era

CV(%) 19.03397 3.207539 17.0242 115.6039 79.20304

Mean 6.2100 609.3636 0.1489 0.0 0.0

STD 0.37332 12.62146 0.01931 0.0 0.0

STD error 0.06499 2.19711 0.00336 0.0 0.0 Bel

toli

CV(%) 6.011614 2.071252 12.96492 - -

Mean 5.3975 704.0909 0.3000 7.4545 85.5455

STD 0.62156 28.56392 0.05274 6.70397 27.30052

STD error 0.10820 4.97234 0.00918 1.16701 4.75241

Cho

rar B

eel

CV(%) 11.51561 4.056852 17.57919 89.93127 31.91346

Some field test results:

Table1: Measurement of wastewater parameters at Different areas in 2005

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

Months'2005

Vol

ume,

m3

at maskanda exitat vatera near bus stand exitat army Cant.exitTotal

Contribution by rainfall

Contribution by ww

Fig.10 Wastewater discharge from Jan to Nov’2005 through the three outlets of Mymensingh Municipal area.

Fig.11 Irrigation Demand

Rice fields (300 acres) 180-250 ton per harvest

Proposed Physical model of ww use

Farmers normally not use fertilizer but some farmers use urea at the rate of 15kg/acre

Channel1 Channe22

Channe33

Population: 375000 Water supply: 13346 m3/day Wastewater quantity: 10676.8 m3/day Drain and channel: 13995km

Pond 1

Pond 2

Pond 3

Trees plantation

(average) ww discharged x-sectional area Channel 1: 44291.63m3/month 0.966m2

Channel 2: 39914.48m3/month 0.8858m2

Channel 3: 42091.66m3/month 1.0181m2

Storage

Storage

Storage

Vegetable production by using ww

Ww volume: Pond1= 4933.93m3

Pond2= 4933.93m3

Pond3= 4933.93m3

Diseases

60% treated ww discharged to the river Brahmaputra

Catching fish on the channel

Biodiversity – crop production, fish cultivation and duck farming

Fish cultivation

Channel carrying wastewater purified by waterhyacinth and other natural sources

Quality control assessment and if suitable goes to river otherwise needs further treatment

Existing Use system

Main objective:To create facility for permanent supply of irrigation water during the drought period, rural energy

supply, reduce water pollution and elevate income level through WW use and SRP production in the

country.

Definition:Wastewater is the flow of used water from a community. The characteristics of the wastewater

discharges will vary from location to location depending upon the population density and industrial

sector working in the area, land uses, groundwater levels, and degree of separation between storm

water and sanitary wastes.

1.Aerobic treatment: A wastewater treatment process in which bacteria and other organisms are

used that feed on waste products and break them down, taking oxygen from their surroundings.

2.Anaerobic treatment: A wastewater treatment process that relies on anaerobic digestion

processes in which bacteria are used that feed on the substrate on which they grow in the absence of

oxygen.

3.BOD: A measure of the organic pollutant strength of wastewater measured in milligrams per litre.

This is equal to the mass of oxygen consumed by organic matter during aerobic decomposition under

standard conditions during a fixed period ( five days).

4.COD: The COD value indicates the oxygen concentration needed to oxidize all carbon compoundsin the sample.

5.Domestic wastewater: Wastewater principally derived from households, business buildings,

institutions, etc.

6.Municipal wastewater: A mixture of domestic wastewater, effluents from commercial and

industrial establishments, and urban runoff.

7.Primary treatment: The first stage of contaminant removal in a wastewater treatment plant

Through screening and settling processes, which can remove 40-50% of contaminants.

8.Secondary treatment: Second stage of wastewater treatment to reduce suspended solids

Through biological cleaning, to remove between 85- 95% of contaminants.

9.Tertiary treatment: Third stage of wastewater treatment including filtration and disinfection,

Which effectively removes upto 99.99% of pathogens and suspended solids.

10.Wastewater: WW is the flow of used water from a community. The characteristics of the wastewater

Discharges will vary from location to location depending upon the population density and industrial sector

working in the area, land uses, groundwater levels, and degree of separation between storm water and

sanitary wastes.

11.SRPs: Short rotation plantation is one which has a coppice ability for some years and harvesting

can be done in a regular interval of time. Considerable amount of firewood can be obtainable in each

harvest.

12.Eutrophication: The process of an aquatic body becoming enriched with nutrients that stimulate aquatic plant

growth, such as algae, resulting in depletion of dissolved oxygen.

Fig.12 Wastewater treatment and reuse

Storage in Ponds, natural

wetlands

Ww collection system

Cost effective treat-ment,biological oxida-tion, disinfection etc.

Assessment of quality: short term and long term method

Irrigation to field crop, short rotation plantation etc.

Release to river

Present use of ww

Name of municipality Present use Mymensingh Paddy cultivation Muktagacha Fish and waterhyacinth cultivation Mohongonj Run to Kongsho river Comilla Fish, vegetable and paddy cultivation Bandarban Irrigation to horticultural crops Sylhet Fish cultivation in wetlands Rangpur Run to Canal Rajshahi Run to river Dinajpur Run to canal Bogra Run to river Khulna Vegetable and fish cultivation Tangail Morta cultivation Sirajgonj Run to river

1. Level of pollutant (ww in all the municipal areas are polluted. Water color is dark brown to sometimes black. Measured data are shown in table 1. In some areas ww is passed under waterhyacinth, duckweed coverage)

2. Hygienic impact (it has found in the Mymensingh area that farmers working in ww irrigated

field are suffering from different skin diseases, helminthes problem and frequent diarrhoea.

3. Economic Impact (Requires less fertilizer in the crop field, earning from firewood selling is

higher, creates employment in selling firewood shops, cost free irrigation, facility fro SRP

production, fish cultivation, creates biodiversity etc.)

4. Drain and Channel condition (Drains are in very poor condition, covered with mud and debris

and most of the places are broken and open. Most of the drains are earthen and the similar

condition exists with the channels which carries ww)

Problems associate with the wastewater management system

A. Requirement of WW collection system:● Low cost wastewater collection technologies can be applied where conventional collection systems are too

difficult to construct in densely populated, low-income areas.● Materials to be easily available and low cost● Easily repairable and technician and mechanic available● Close drain may be used for collecting domestic wastewater● RCC drainage system need to be constructed for allowing the wastewater to flow to the down stream into

storage system/wetlands.

B. Land facility and management:

*Land facility is the first requirement for the establishment of storage of wastewater. Agricultural Land ofBangladesh

is fragmented and percapita land is below 0.3 acre. Farmers use lands for field crop production and lands available

near to the road side are mostly fallow and farmers’ plant trees of different types, mainly for fire wood purpose.

There is no systematic plantation system available in the area. In every year government declares tree plantation

day for planting different tree saplings in the forecourt of the office, domestic houses, road sides etc. Normally

irrigation is not practiced to this plantation.

Each municipality generates considerable amount of wastewater which is presently not using for any purpose. After

proper management this wastewater can be used for irrigation to field crops and short rotation plantation, bio-

fertilizer production, energy production etc.

*Land available near to the ww channel are to be recorded from the farmers’ interview and also from the office of

Assistant Commissioner (AC)of lands and also from the union council office. Total area available in the area is to be

determined.

*The record of fallow land can be obtained from the office of the AC land and land tax office and the total area canbe ascertained. The selection of land will be such that the lands are fallow or there would not be much competitionwith food production.

*Presently lands are cultivated for different field crops. So land can be obtained through leasing system. Labour can

Be engaged for planting, irrigation and different field operations. Nursery can be raised for plantlets/seedlings.

* Some land should be arranged for field level demonstration for stake holders and end-users for SRPs production

using wastewater. There should be budget provision for land leasing, field operation, irrigation etc.

C. Cost effective treatment system:

* Technologies from abroad can be easily imported into Bangladesh but these should be low cost and tested so that

Our users can afford it.

* Biological wastewater treatment system should be used to treat wastewater as it will be cheap.

D. Assessment of quality:

*Before using the wastewater it should be tested for physical as well as the chemical properties and should maintain

The national standard.

E. Use of treated wastewater:

* Surface irrigation for field crops

* Non food crop irrigation

* Irrigation to SRPs

* Wetlands, wildlife habitat, stream augmentation

* Cooling process in garment factory and tanneries

* Drinking water for animals, poultry

* Fish cultivation

F. Local political support: For implementation of any new things in the country need political willingness. This requires meeting with local political persons like, Local MP, Municipal Chairman, Local word commissioners, Union parishad Chairman, farmers, businessmen etc. News to local media like radio, television etc.

G. Support from Local administration: permission for SRP operation, remove existing barriers and have legal

conditions for ww re-use and arrange meeting with DC, ADCs

H. Support from educational institutions for conducting research for generating different technical

data like: suitability of soil, different characteristics of plantations suitable for the country.

I. Survey on plant spices available in the region and their suitability to use as SRPs.

J. Production of plantlets/seedlings: Presently some people are raising nursery for plantlets. Some performance

study are necessary to identify the fast growing spices and can be used as short rotation plantation. Not all plantation

can be used as SRPs. So, some research is necessary to identify the right spices suitable for SRPs in the country.

K. Local knowledge and new technology interactions: It is true that a new technology can not be adapted in

A day or night. This requires to grow habit of practice through demonstration. So demonstration method should be

Lunched in the region to explain SRPs and Wastewater’s bebefit in comparison to grow traditional crops and

plantations. Some training facility need to be arranged to train the farmers regarding the plantlet production, planting

method, field maintenance and finally the benefits of WW and SRP use over the traditional crops or tree cultivation.

Besides, local awareness would be focused on the problem of untreated ww and willingness to tackle the problems.

Low cost ww treatment techniques to be developed. Income from existing crop cultivation and sources of other

income will be recorded and compared with the use of WW and SRPs. If income from traditional crop cultivation is

lower than the income from SRPs then farmer will be interested to accept the new method/systems.

M. Test: Test will be conducted for soil as well as the water to know the suitability of the soil and water for SRPs

cultivation. The results of the test will be informed to the landowners. BAU has soil and water quality testing laboratory.

Necessary tests can be carried out at BAU.

Parameters used in the evaluation of Agricultural Water Quality:

TDS, EC, Temp., Colour/Turbidity, Hardness, Sediments, Acidity, Basicity, Type and concentration of anions and cations,

Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Carbonate, Bicarbonate, Chloride, Sulphate, Sodium adsorption ratio, Boron, Trace metals,

Heavy metals, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus, potassium.

N. Agronomic and economic benefits of wastewater use in Irrigation:

The amount of NPK can be easily calculated from the application rate of wastewater and the amount of NPK available in

mg/l. Then NPK in kg/ha.year can be easily calculated. Thus, all of the nitrogen and much of the phosphorus and

potassium normally required for agricultural crop/SRPs production would be supplied by the effluent, other valuable

micronutrients and the organic matter contained in the effluent will provide additional benefits.

O. Parameters that are essential to run a wastewater treatment plant:

pH value- 6.0-9.0

Do (dissolved oxygen)-1-2 mg/l

BOD and COD determine the pollution of wastewater.

BOD5 - The BOD5 is an indirect measurement of carbon compounds by direct measuring the amount of oxygen

consumed by the micro-organism at a temperature of 20oC within 5 days.Common values of BOD5 are: 400-

1000mg/l at the inlet of the treatment plant and below 50mg/l at the effluence of the plant.

COD - The COD value indicates the oxygen concentration needed to oxidize all carbon compounds in the sample.

Typical values of COD are 500-1000 mg/l at the inlet of the plant and below 75 mg/l at the outlet of the plant.

Nitrogen: Total nitrogen responsible the single paramerters ammonium, nitrate and nitrite are important parameters to

qualify wastewater. High content of ammonium reduces DO content by forming nitrate and nitrite. Nitrate is a nutrient

which fertilizes the water and on the other hand nitrite is poisonous. The value of total N should be below 18 mg/l. So,

ammonia measurement is important.

Phosphorus: Phosphate in wastewater will fertilize the water. Due to eutrophication process algae grows well causing

massive impact on the ecological balance of the ecosystems.

P. Maintenance of WW channel:

Wastewater channels are available which carries wastewater from the municipal areas to river, crop fields, ponds, ditches in

the down stream side. In the previous study it shows that channels are blocked with mud, grasses, old objects, papers. So this

channel should be kept clean through periodical cleaning of the channel: removing mud in the bottom of the channel, cleaning

of the old matters, prohibit to make toilet on the channel, remove grasses from the channel. Because of shortage of fund MA

could not construct RCC channel for discharging wastewater. Through government/foreign help RCC channel should be

constructed.

Q. Selection of SRPs:

On the basis of farmers recommendation, there is a wide range of plants are available in the country. We need to select the

proper spices suitable for short rotation plantation. The following trees/herbs or shrubs can be selected as SRP as because

they have the following characteristics:

Characteristics:1. fast growing, 2. can be used as firewood, 3.some spices have the capability for the production of bio-diesel

or ethanol production, 4. have capability for high nutrient uptake, 5. adapted in wet soil condition.

Quick growing plants available in Bangladesh:Local name English name Scientific name Family Habit Moringa(Sajina) Drum Stick Moringa Oleifera Moringaceae Tree Nil (2) Indigo plant Indigofera tinctoria Leguminosae Shrub Bherenda Ricinus communis Euphorbiaceae Shrub Katshola Sesbania palludosa Leguminosae Shrub Murtha Clinogyne

dichotoma Marantaceae Shrub

Hizal Bottle Brush Oak

Barringtonia acutangula

Lrecythydaceae Tree

Tunt Morus indica Moraceae Tree Katamandar Coral tree Erythrina ovalifolia Leguminosae Tree Palita mandar Coral tree Erythrina indica Leguminosae Tree Khair Acacia catechu Leguminosae Tree Ber(Boroi) Indian plum Zizyphus jujuba Rhamnaceae Tree Bakphul Sesban Sesbania

grandiflora Leguminosae Tree

Dadraj Candle tree/ringworm

Cassia alata Leguminosae shrub

Shada Mandar Jatropha carcus shrub

R. Biomass production: The production of biomass per ha-year depends on the local condition, spices, soil

condition and fertilizer use. But in Bangladesh normally no fertilizer is used in the production of trees, shrubs or

herbs. No research is done in Bangladesh as regards to the effect of fertilizer use on the amount of biomass

production. But much research in this issue has been done in abroad. Literature shows that about 2-10 ton biomass

Can be produced from an area of one ha per year.

S. Wastewater as fertilizer: Literature shows that fast growing trees/shrubs/herbs can produce more biomass and

nutrient uptake capacity is higher than non wastewater cultivation method.

T. Major constituents of WW: Table1. Major constituents of typical domestic wastewater,

U. Water purification efficiency by SRPs: According to Larson et al. (2003), the level of wastewater purification

by treatment of SRPs is substantial and fully comparable to tertiary treatment. Perttu et al. state that about 75-95 % of

the nitrogen and phosphorous matter in wastewater can be removed through energy crop cultivations.

V. Aquatic plants suited for Water treatment: Water Lily (shapla) has an extensive root system with rapid

growth rates. It is an ideal plant for water treatment systems in warm climates. Duckweed (Lemma spp.) has a good

capacity for nutrient absorption. Pennywort(Hydrocotyl spp.) has a very good capacity for nutrient uptake. Water

hyacinth: It has a brushing capacity to separate dirt particles from water and its leave possesses high nutrient. The

leaves of the aquatic plants contain high nutrient ( nitrogen and phosphorous) and they may be used as fertilizer at a

later time.

W. Environmental impact: Impact on soil quality: Many authors suggested that risk of accumulating salts, heavy

metals and other components in the soil from wastewater irrigation is rather small. Leakage to ground water: The

leakage of organic and chemical compounds to the groundwater depends on the infiltration capacity, the soil texture,

and the intensity of contamination. Hygienic aspects: If wastewater is not sufficiently treated in advance, groundwater

contamination might occur, at least in case of coliforms.

Policy for sustainable wastewater management:● National authorities need to secure political commitment and domestic financial resources ● better health and protection from diseases ● protection of environment: no pollution will occur● Use environmental friendly technology appropriate for local physical and socio economic conditions● Demand led designing systems, financing mechanisms and institutional support structures that are best

suited to the users’ needs.● Pricing water services and providing the right incentive to users.● Policies across economic sectors and making strong integration between public and private sectors.● Delegation of responsibilities for proper management.● Develop system for poverty alleviation programmes, human settlement programmes with hygienic

education● Promote effective participation of all stakeholders, emphasize the role of women.

Implementation procedures:● Selection of Land ● create appropriate channel system● Ensure Sustainable supply of wastewater● Selection of low cost wastewater treatment system in the area: Priority is biological system: aquatic

plants, grass, trees, shrubs, herbs● Creation of irrigation facility ● Selection of appropriate spices of SRPs● create awareness to prevent pollution at the primary source● provide subsidies, interest free loans to end users as well as to stakeholders● Develop standards to maintain the water quality suitable for crops and SRPs.● Use state of the art or legislation for proper monitoring, revenue collection, operation and maintenance.● State provision for funding for infrastructure built (rural energy supply system).● Formulate rules and regulation for strict evaluation for monitoring water quality, issuing discharge

licenses and collecting discharge fees or penalties.

Conclusion1.Proper site selection: With the help of UC chairman and local administration, appropriate land for

treated wastewater storage and its use in the crop fields and SRP production is possible.

2.Primary sedimentation system: Wastewater in no way be allowed to run to the river but must be passed

through the primary sedimentation system.

3. Appropriate amount of wastewater supply: Each municipality in Bangladesh has sustainable volume of

wastewater which may be supplied throughout the year to the wastewater treatment system.

4.SRPs: Appropriate spices of SRPs are available in the country and now we need to select the proper one. SRP

has the capacity to filtrate the wastewater reducing the risk of ground water contamination

6.There must be vegetation coverage throughout the year, but it is not always possible

7.Low cost wastewater treatment is possible through SRPs cultivation and growing aquatic plants.

8.Economic benefit is possible through the production of biomass

9.Still today wastewater treatment technologies are very limited in Bangladesh. But it has sufficient prospect and

future to treat wastewater and use it for irrigation and renewable energy supply.

10. From the above discussion and implementation strategy may be prepared.