Abstract
Wastewater samples were collected from Al-Rustumia wastewater treatment plant. The methodology which was used to measure radon activity levels was long-term air measurements with passive solid-state alpha track detector CR-39. The collected samples include wastewater before and after treatment for 5 months which started from September 2017 to January 2018. The results show that the average values of radon activity level for untreated and treated wastewater samples were 0.049 Bq L−1 and 0.036 Bq L−1, respectively. Dissolved radon concentrations for the study samples were also calculated and their values were 1.270 Bq L−1 and 0.937 Bq L−1, respectively. The calculated radon surface exhalation rate for wastewater samples before treatment was 0.048 Bq m−2 h−1 and after treatment was 0.035 Bq m−2 h−1. These values are lower than the maximum acceptable radon levels as given by United States Environmental Protection Agency. As well as, the results reveal that radon activity level decreases after treatment process implementation, and there are no considerable variations with different times of the year.
Highlights
Wastewater reuse is an essential part of water needs which enhances the preservation of purity of freshwater as well as decreasing the environmental pollution and the total supply costs
The objective of this research is to measure radon activity concentrations in the untreated and treated wastewater samples collected from Al-Rustumia (WWTP) by using solid-state nuclear track detector CR-39 and to assess its appropriateness for irrigation purposes
The results show that radon activity levels decrease after the treatment process for all samples, whereas there are no major variations at different times of the year
Summary
Wastewater reuse is an essential part of water needs which enhances the preservation of purity of freshwater as well as decreasing the environmental pollution and the total supply costs. Urbanization, development of sanitation service, and scarcity of freshwater increase the demand for the reuse of treated wastewater (Shaker et al 2014; Alobaidy et al 2010; Yadav et al 2002; Qadir et al 2009). Irrigation with treated wastewater should be managed carefully in order to reduce the negative environmental impacts and can be more useful to the environment (WHO 2005). The use of treated wastewater for irrigation, which is currently widely used, is suggested as an alternative way for irrigation due to scarcity of freshwater (DHWA 2002). TWW should be examined carefully in order to make certain that it meets Iraqi National Standards set by the Regulation 25 of 1967
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