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.