Impact of the reuse of treated wastewater in irrigation: an analysis of ionic lixiviats
In Morocco, one of the Mediterranean countries, water resources are limited and unevenly distributed in space and time. Agadir, a city in southern Morocco, is part of the Souss region known for its agricultural activities and fishing. The region is also known for its semi-arid climate and a large water deficit. In order to preserve the quality of the water masses and reduce the water demand in the natural environment, alternative water supplies should be sought. The reuse of treated wastewater seems to be a good alternative, especially for irrigation. The wastewater potential from the M’zar treatment plant of Greater Agadir (Morocco) for irrigation, without any restriction (category A, WHO standards), is about 10,000 m3•d-1. This capacity could satisfy the needs for irrigation water for the entire Agadir area (Morocco). In the present study, the effects of the use of reclaimed wastewater and groundwater for irrigation of golf courses were compared. The leachate composition was monitored during the first 60 days of irrigation. We present the planning, the study protocol and the results that were obtained from the physicochemical analyses of the leachates. The results showed that despite the high fertilizing value of reclaimed wastewater, a slight increase in salinity was recorded, along with a transfer of soluble salts to groundwater.