Produced Water For Irrigation Research Articles

Performance of Conditional Random Forest and Regression Models at Predicting Human Fecal Contamination of Produce Irrigation Ponds in the Southeastern United States.

Irrigating fresh produce with contaminated water contributes to the burden of foodborne illness. Identifying fecal contamination of irrigation waters and characterizing fecal sources and associated environmental factors can help inform fresh produce safety and health hazard management. Using two previously collected data sets, we developed and evaluated the performance of logistic regression and conditional random forest models for predicting general and human-specific fecal contamination of ponds in southwest Georgia used for fresh produce irrigation. Generic Escherichia coli served as a general fecal indicator, and human-associated Bacteroides (HF183), crAssphage, and F+ coliphage genogroup II were used as indicators of human fecal contamination. Increased rainfall in the previous 7 days and the presence of a building within 152 m (a proxy for proximity to septic systems) were associated with increased odds of human fecal contamination in the training data set. However, the models did not accurately predict the presence of human-associated fecal indicators in a second data set collected from nearby irrigation ponds in different years. Predictive statistical models should be used with caution to assess produce irrigation water quality as models may not reliably predict fecal contamination at other locations and times, even within the same growing region.

Thermal seawater desalination for irrigation purposes in a water-stressed region: Emerging value tensions in full-scale implementation

Water scarcity in arid regions has driven the spread of desalination. These systems contribute to water access but come at an intensive energy cost, and lead to brine discharge and associated environmental impacts. This work aims to investigate emerging societal issues and tensions when developing and implementing a thermal desalination system to produce irrigation water in the South of Spain. This has been done in a demonstration system for solar desalination able to recover water and salts from desalination brine. For this purpose, a context-sensitive design exercise has been implemented. First, tensions between social values expressed by diverse stakeholders have been identified. Then, a set of technical scenarios for the full-scale implementation of the system were designed and evaluated, comparing them to conventional membrane desalination. The analysis indicates high economic and energy costs to avoid the environmental impacts of increasing water production.

Partial Desalination of Saline Groundwater, including Flowback Water, to Produce Irrigation Water

Globally, more than 50 million ha of arable land is irrigated with saline water. The majority of this saline irrigation water is derived from saline groundwater. Global irrigation requirements may increase from 270 million ha in 2014 to about 750 million ha by 2050 as the global population increases to 9.1 billion people. The majority of this additional irrigation water is likely to come from saline groundwater sources. Desalination of irrigation water increases crop yield. A combination of high water volume requirements and low crop yields requires that, for widespread usage, the desalinated irrigation water product will require a delivery price of <USD 0.5 m3. This study considers five passive desalination routes (n-Fe0; n-Fe3O4; Fe0:Fe(b)@C0 polymer; n-Fe0:Fe(b) polymer; n-Fe(b) polymer) that may potentially achieve this goal: A common desalination mechanism is identified for the Fe0:Fe(b)@C0 polymer; n-Fe0:Fe(b) polymer; and n-Fe(b) polymer routes. The analysis establishes that the n-Fe(b) polymer route may be able to achieve (with a reaction time of 1 h) an 80% to 90% desalination of saline groundwater or flowback water (12.3 g NaCl L−1; EC = 17.6 dSm−1), to form partially desalinated irrigation water (1.2 to 2.4 g NaCl L−1; EC = 2 to 3.4 dSm−1) with an associated reduction in the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) from 125 to between 1.2 and 2.5, for a potential material (n-Fe(b) polymer) treatment cost of <USD 0.01 m−3, after considering polymer reuse and recycle, but excluding all other plant and other operating costs. The examples demonstrate that the polymers can be used to create: (i) a desalinated stationary hydrodynamic plume, containing 47,123 m3 water (1 to 2.5 g NaCl L−1), within 157,080 m3 porous rock forming a confined, saline aquifer (18.59 g NaCl L−1), to act as a reservoir of desalinated water (96 m3 d−1) for irrigation, with the potential to produce >960 m3 d−1 as required; (ii) a desalinated, perched, stationary, shallow groundwater mound, located above the regional water table, containing >200 m3 of desalinated water.

Water Recovery from Urban Wastewater for Irrigation using Ultrafiltration and Nanofiltration: Optimization and Performance

AbstractThe shortcomings of conventional processes for treating urban wastewater subjected to secondary treatment, in order to use this water for irrigation, are well known. Alternative advanced treatment techniques are required instead. This study aims to use single‐stage ultrafiltration (UF) or nanofiltration (NF) membrane processes to produce irrigation water from biologically treated urban wastewater. For this purpose, the effects of four process variables (membrane type, cross flow velocity, temperature, and transmembrane pressure) on process performance parameters (permeate flux, concentrations/removal efficiencies of contaminants) are analyzed through Taguchi experiment design. Temperature and membrane type are found to have the biggest effect on UF, whereas the membrane type is the most significant variable for the NF. Moreover, the use of membrane permeate for landscaping and agricultural irrigation based on optimal conditions is assessed with reference to the criteria imposed by national regulation/international guidelines. Water in various quality categories is produced using different settings for 28 distinct specific parameters with reference to the membrane type, process performance, and the irrigation method. The results indicate that single‐stage UF or NF membranes with high recovery rates can be used for wastewater subjected to secondary treatment, to recover irrigation water at low pressure and high water permeate flux.

Agricultural uses in a greenhouse structure with an integrated solar desalination system on the roof

Background: Today there is a variety of desalination systems supporting the production of water for agricultural uses. However, these systems are still characterized by relatively high installation and operation costs and are not particularly suitable for isolated areas. The present work proposes the development and operation of an innovative and sustainable greenhouse structure that utilizes simultaneously its roof to produce irrigation water, with the method of solar desalination, and its inside space to house livestock and poultry. Aims: The main objective of this work is to study the agricultural livestock uses that can be welcomed by this greenhouse-solar desalination construction. The design and operation of this unit aims to produce irrigation water in arid areas, creating significant environmental and social benefits by protecting the water resources of these areas as well and by developing agricultural economic activity in drought conditions. Moreover, multiple land use such this case offers the possibility to urban and spatial planners to take decisions towards sustainability. Methods: This study examines the design of such structures in combination with the internal environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting) that are required for animal production, in order to propose the proper design techniques and modifications needed for the animals’ welfare. The optimum environmental conditions and control systems of each type of productive animal differ and thus those are studied separately. Results & Conclusion: Regarding productive animals due to the special conditions required for maximum yields with a satisfactory level of well-being, the greenhouse-type construction with the solar desalination system can be adapted accordingly. The environmental control systems that affect the initial study and design of the construction are mainly those of ventilation and cooling, while heating and lighting systems affect basically the structural analysis and not the design. The operation of such an innovative system for combined agricultural use and irrigation water production creates the opportunity for local communities to benefit from the increase of locally produced products at lower prices, and from the upgrading and utilization of arid areas that are not suitable of any other land use or they previously had no other use.

Towards agro-environmentally sustainable irrigation with treated produced water in hyper-arid environments

Produced water (PW) is the main waste stream generated from oil and gas extraction. Nowadays, half of the global PW volume is managed through environmentally controversial and expensive disposal practices, such as re-injection through deep wells. In dry areas such as in the Arabian Peninsula, PW could be reused to irrigate crops, creating environmental, economic and social value. However, the quality of most PWs remains challenging as their high salinity, sodicity and alkalinity can degrade soil fertility and crop yield. Mitigating these negative impacts is costly as it requires specific PW treatment and irrigation management. Thus, the environmental sustainability and the cost of irrigation with PW are uncertain. The aims of this paper was to assess the agro-environmental sustainability of irrigating crops with PW in hot and hyper-arid climate and to estimate the operating cost of reusing PW for irrigation in order to compare this PW management approach to PW disposal in terms of environmental impacts and financial cost. To this end, a soil-water model was used to simulate irrigation of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) with oilfield-PW. Different irrigation strategies combining over-irrigation, PW blending and desalination were tested to preserve the soil structural stability and the crop yield. The operational costs of identified sustainable scenarios were estimated using a cost analysis. In this case study, the simulations showed that using an irrigation volume up to ∼390 % of the crop water needs with a blend composed of raw and desalinated PW in a 2:1 ratio could preserve the soil structural stability and the crop yield. However, for irrigation, the least-cost option was to mix raw and desalinated PW in a 1:4 ratio and to reduce the irrigation amount to just meet the crop water needs. Although the cost of managing PW in irrigation remains up to 2.5 times higher than PW disposal, this practice might be competitive considering the crop value generated and the increasing need for sustainable alternatives to PW disposal.

Agro-environmental sustainability and financial cost of reusing gasfield-produced water for agricultural irrigation

Produced water (PW) is the largest by-product generated from oil and gas extraction. Currently, half of the total PW volume is managed through environmentally-controverted and costly disposal practices. In dry regions, PW could be beneficially reused to irrigate crops reducing the overexploitation of freshwater resources. However, PW quality, and particularly its high salinity, sodicity and alkalinity, create uncertainties regarding the agro-environmental sustainability and the cost of this practice. The aim of this paper was to identify potential agro-environmentally sustainable irrigation schemes with gasfield-PW in hyper-arid Qatar and to estimate their operating costs. A soil-water model was used to simulate the irrigation of sugar beet with gasfield-PW under the climatic and soil conditions occurring in northern Qatar. Different irrigation strategies combining over-irrigation, PW blending with treated sewage effluent (TSE) and PW desalination were tested in order to protect the soil and the aquifer from salinisation and sodification. The operating costs of identified agro-environmentally sustainable scenarios were estimated through a cost analysis. In the case study, the simulations indicated that using an irrigation volume up to ∼300% of the crop water needs with a blend of two-thirds PW and one-third TSE (or desalinated PW) could preserve the soil stability, crop yield and groundwater quality. The least-cost option was to reduce the irrigation amount at a little over the crop water needs and mix PW with an equivalent volume of TSE or four equivalent volumes of desalinated PW which would cost $0.26/m3 and $0.46/m3 respectively. As traditional PW disposal practices cost between $0.06–$16.67/m3, reusing PW in irrigation is thus potentially a competitive PW management strategy for O&G firms.

Application of GIS Technique to Evaluate the Groundwater Quality for Irrigation Purposes

Geographic Information System (GIS) technique has been applied in the current study to produce irrigation water quality index (IWQI) map for the Karbala provenience in Iraq. For this purpose, hundred and twenty two (122) samples of groundwater have been collected for various sites of the study area. These samples have been analyzed for different elements that affect the irrigation water quality. Specifically, five chemicals parameters were used Electrical conductivity (EC), Cl-, HCO3-1, Na% and Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) to create the database of water quality which has been transferred to the GIS platform to produce a spatial distribution map of each parameter using reverse interpolation technique (IDW). The results of these parameters were also used to calculate irrigation water quality index values, and transferred to the GIS platform for the production of the irrigation water quality index map. Accordingly the groundwater in the studied area is unsuitable for irrigation except for a small part which represents 8 % of the total area that could be used with high permeability soils, which have the ability to carry a high proportion of salts.

Studies on pore blocking mechanism and technical feasibility of a hybrid PAC-MF process for reclamation of irrigation water from biotreated POME

ABSTRACTAn integrated low-cost adsorption (with powdered activated carbon, PAC) and cross-flow membrane filtration (with microfiltration membranes of 0.1 and 0.2 μm pore sizes) process was employed for the treatment of biotreated palm oil mill effluent (POME) to produce irrigation water that is fully benchmarked with water-quality standards. The permeate quality was within the recommended standard for irrigation water, as the concentrations of all critical constituents were well below their recommended values. Sustainability of the process integration was further confirmed with the domination of cake filtration over other blocking mechanisms with higher R2 values at all trans-membrane pressures. Suitable extended usage of permeate was found for toilet/urinal flushing.

Biotreatment of Textile Effluent for Irrigation Purpose Using Indigenous Bacterial Consortium (BMP1/SDSC/01): A Step towards Reducing Fresh Water Scarcity

A bioreactor was designed to attain efficient, cost-effective and environmentally reliable bioremediation system for the biotreatment of textile effluents to produce irrigation water. The consortium BMP1/SDSC-01 (having six indigenous bacterial isolates: Bacillus subtilus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.) was used in the bioreactor for the treatment of effluents. Bacterial obliteration from the biotreated textile effluents was done by using acetic acid, which proved efficient and result showed that bacterial growth was not possible in the presence of acetic acid. The treated and untreated textile effluents were applied on two common crops of Pakistan Zea mays L. CV C1415 (Maize) and Sorghum vulgare Pers.CV SSG5000 (Sorghum) to monitor efficacy of bioremediated textile effluents. During experiment plant height, number of leaves, photosynthesis and transpiration rates, and biomass were measured. The results clearly indicated that in untreated effluents maize plant height, biomass, photosynthesis and transpiration was93.26, 45.38, 9.11 and 0.41, respectively. Under irrigation of treated effluents, plant height, biomass, photosynthesis and transpiration were 124, 44.07, 16.95 and 0.84 respectively. Similar trend was observed in sorghum, its plant height increased to 115.8 instead of 85 (untreated). Simultaneously, number of leaves, biomass, photosynthesis and transpiration were 8.62, 44.45, 13.29 and 0.51, respectively. The results are proving that bioreactor successfully reduced the toxicity level of textile effluents and can be used for irrigation purposes. This study will help to produce irrigation water from textile effluents at large scale in Pakistan by applying bioremediation.

Comparison of primers for the detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli using real-time PCR

To evaluate PCR primers for the detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli in a real-time PCR assay and determine their utility in produce irrigation water testing. Three previously published PCR primer sets and one set designed for this study were tested for their ability to produce amplification products for several pathogenic E. coli serotypes from whole cells as template. Two of the previously published primer sets were chosen for real-time PCR detection limit determination. The coneaeA and PEH detection limit of E. coli O157:H7 was 10(0) and 10(1) CFU rxn(-1) in sterile water respectively. To detect E. coli O157:H7 in sprout irrigation water, the water required dilution due to PCR inhibitors. The detection limit of the coneaeA and PEH was 10(1) and between 10(2) and 10(3) CFU rxn(-1) in diluted sprout irrigation water respectively. The primer set coneaeA was able to produce an amplification product from each E. coli serotype, except O128:H7 and most sensitive for real-time PCR detection of pathogenic E. coli in diluted sprout irrigation water. The necessity of a dissociation analysis to distinguish positive samples from those with fluorescence of random dsDNA generation for real-time PCR in a complex background was established.

Predicting the Impact of Controlled Infiltration of Urban Waste Water with Micro-Computing Techniques

It is planned to install a natural purification system for the waste water from Agadir, by means of vertical filtration in dune sand on the south bank of the Souss river. The purification processes within the soil have, furthermore, been studied in a pilot scheme.At 6 km distance from the injection site lies a well field ; the main aim of the study was to predict the impact of the infiltration of waste water on the water quality within the pumping well, taking into account the purification parameters and the hydrodynamic and transfer properties within the aquifer.To this end, hydrogeological and tracer studies were implemented for determining the aquifer characteristics. After this, mathematical models were used for interpretation of the measurements, simulation of flow and prediction of the impact of the waste water on the groundwater. The last item comprised estimating the size of polluted areas and determining the possible contamination of wells in the well field (starting date of pollution and final concentrations).Installation of an intermediate re-pumping station was simulated as well. This permitted not only to protect the water-supply wells, but also to produce irrigation water. Modelling led to the determination of optimal yields, based on the siting of intermediate re-pumping wells.