Possibility of using Sewage Effluent from Different Water Treatment Plants in Different Cities of Saudi Arabia for Agricultural Reuse

Abstract

A comparative study was conducted to test the efficiencies of 7 sewage water treatment plants, 4 in Jeddah, Bani-Malik, Al-Balad, Al-Khomrah, Hael, one in Makkah, one in Abha and one in Taif city in Saudi Arabia. The plants were installed for the treatment of the cities domestic and industrial wastewater effluent. The parameters studied included the physiological, chemical and biological characteristics treated sewage water (effluent) of the treatment plants. The 7 plants vary in their efficiencies to eliminate the studied parameters. The values of these parameters are within the range allowed according to the standards of the MWE ( 2005 ) and FAO ( 1985 ) except for the total coliform bacteria ( TCB ) which is high than the standards suggested (not to exceed 1000 colonies/100 ml), and also according to concentrations of TSS and according to concentrations of BOD and COD. So according to these results sewage water treatment plants working now in Saudi Arabia needed modernization to be more efficient in treatment of the raw waste water, so it can be used for irrigation and production of crop, fodder and vegetable plants. It is recommended to resort to treated sewage water for production of field crops, forages in general in Saudi Arabia.