Grey Water Reuse To Enhance Home Kitchen Garden Production

Abstract

Climate variability and shortage of water for irrigation are the factors that affect crop production and yield components, grey water reuse for irrigation have been suggested to be used especially in dry period to meet crop water requirement.

Research focused on grey water collection, filtration using sand filter and analysis for irrigation in rural household. Laboratory Test have been used to prove available nutrients element for crop; N, P, K and harmful elements for crops Cl and Na. The Water acidity also have been analysed before and after filtration by measuring Electrical conductivity; Ec and pH. It has been done to ensure the capability of sand filter for irrigation water quality.

Laboratory results for raw water shown that the maximum total Nitrogen, N available for concentrated grey water was 0.07%, Average Phosphorus; P (ppm) was 9.83 and Potassium; K(meq/100g) was 0.66. Harmful element, maximum concentration identified for Na (meq/100g) was 1.30 and Cl (ppm) was 1190.0. About acidity, maximum pH was 9.0 and Ec (ds/cm) 1.67.

Gravity filtration system made by wire-mesh, gravel, sand and charcoal have been used to reduce turbidity and pathogen elements. After filtering raw water pH, Ec, Na and Cl change to 5.9, 0.65, 1.29 and 507.5 respectively. Analyse conducted for ten households, stated that sand filter is able to treat grey water for irrigation water quality on household level as average of harmful element for crop; Na and Cl are 0.279, 222.6 respectively. Grand mean of Ec and pH are expected to be 0.64 and 6.0 respectively that cannot lead to the soil salinity and fall in the acceptable ranges.

 Using this filter, it allows to get the clean water, particularly in increasing the pH, reducing the turbidity, eliminating odors and reducing bacteria to allow the filtered water to be used in irrigation of kitchen garden. To increase the sanitary of our homes and getting water for irrigating kitchen garden, the sand filter is a good recommendation especially in zones with scarce water in dry season.