Abstract
A major constraint on the use of treated wastewater (TWW) in microirrigation systems is the potential for fouling. This research aimed to assess the occurrence of fouling in drip irrigation systems applying TWW and determine the quantity and chemical characteristics of the fouling. A field survey was performed to determine the incidence of chemical and biological fouling in irrigation systems and its influence on system performance. Dripper flow rate, total and volatile solids, chemical composition, and diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra of the fouling material were determined. Fouling was found in all of the drip irrigation systems sampled under a variety of conditions. The fouling contained a high percentage of organic matter (OM), except for two instances where the material was mainly inorganic. Identification of the functional groups using DRIFT showed that the OM found is essentially of aliphatic and amide origin. Comparing the spectra obtained from the various sites revealed considerable similarity in the material properties. This suggests a common mechanism in all irrigation systems tested, but a different accumulation rate. A high correlation was found between total phosphorus concentration, the sum of Ca and Mg concentrations and the TWW pH, and the content of total and organic carbon in the fouling. In addition, the correlation between equipment age and the amount of accumulated total solids was high for systems containing high quantities of fouling. The concentration of volatile solids was highly correlated with the age of the irrigation system.
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