THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF USING SEWAGE WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND HOW TO REHABILITATE (Case Study: Ghammaza Drain in Helwan Governorate)

Abstract

Most of used water ends up in the city or public sewer system which inevitably winds up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. A shortage of water can cause outbreak of diseases, not to mention, the dehydration in people and loss of crops. Most, if not all, of our water can be recycled. That is, tap or potable water from our reservoirs used for drinking and washing which mostly end up in the septic tanks or some sort of sewage treatment facility can be recycled back into toilets and for general purpose cleaning: washing cars, streets, and the home, the place of work, watering lawns, gardens, and house plants. This not only represents avoidance of "water shortage emergencies", but also a great savings in costs. This research represents the interest of state of Egypt on researches and new methods of water recycling after treatment by suitable processes. This new processes are compatible with environmental systems which represent a new type of sewage water treatment by using natural biological substance. This substance consists of different consistent types of bacteria, fungi and yeasts. The Japanese professor TeruoHiga in the city of Okinawa has discovered this substance, which has different types with different components of bacteria, fungi and yeasts. This substance also has positive side effects since it resists the erosion of tanks and sewage water networks when it is added to sewage treatment stations. It is therefore, reduces the maintenance costs since it is a natural biological substance that does not contain any chemical components. This research has been implemented by taking samples from the Ghammaza drain in Elsaff, Helwan through three main points: First Point: From Ghammaza drain (from the beginning of flood inflow next to graves and factories). Second point: From Ghammaza drain (500 meter away from the beginning of flood inflow). Third point : From Ghammaza drain (in front of the settlement next to Ghammaza bridge). Sample analysis had shown that samples which taken was not matching and violating the environmental law as well as the article No.66 of the executive regulations of the law 48 for year 1982.Hence, it was obvious that the point which include the highest pollution percentage of (BOD) (Biological Oxygen, Demand), (COD) (Chemical Oxygen Demand), and other element such as nitrate and percentage of turbidity and odor and high solid dissolved, it was the 3rd point. Hence, the researcher have dealt and done a treatment for this point which had been the greatest problem. It is noted that the researcher had taken three samples of this location and had carried out her practical research on them. From the previous results one can observe that the concentration of (EM) in case of 1:5000 at different periods of time is the best practical result in this treatment process. However, it is also observed that by making the treatment process, but by replacement the concentration of (EM) to 1:10000the final results in case of 1:10000 is very close to the final results of 1:5000 and agreed with the law 48/1982 . While by making the treatment process with replacement the concentration of (EM) to 1:20000 the final results is far away to the limit of law 48/1982. Thus, by taking into consideration other factors, such as, the cost it is preferred to use the treatment by (EM) at concentration 1:10000 (EM) substance can greatly help accomplish the above recycling, including, considerable reduction, if not elimination, of foul odor, of sludge, and the cleaning of our rivers, lakes, and oceans. (EM) prevents corrosion through the suppression of activities of free radicals and therefore prevents the deterioration of the sewer system and tanks. This would translate into long term savings in maintenance cost. As (EM) pervades throughout the sewer system and into the rivers, lakes, and oceans, (EM) creates a condition in which plant life can propagate. And such revitalization of plant life along river banks, shorelines, and sea coasts, can prevent their erosion. Microbes require some time to act upon waste and wastewater, hence the retention time of effluents or sewage in the tank(s) of a treatment plant is an important factor. Treatment plants with a retention time of a few hours have little chance to improve performance without enlarging their overall tank volume. Biocide agents such as chlorine, disinfectants, detergents and other hygiene inputs should be minimized in all cases of biological (microbial) treatment or completely eliminated, independent of (EM) input in particular. Recommended initial dosage should be activated (EM) solution (EM) 1 liter in 500 liters wastewater to be applied daily for the first 10 days. Subsequently frequency of application can be decreased to once every second day or every third day. Once the objectives of (EM) application have been achieved, frequency of application can be further reduced to once a week.