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Student Advising M. Shah Alam Khan |
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Name of the student: UTHPAL KUMAR Program: M.Sc in Water Resources Development
Title: ASSESSMENT OF OPPORTUNITY AND ADVERSE IMPACT OF WASTEWATER REUSE IN PERI-URBAN AREAS OF RAJSHAHI
Background and present state of the problem:
Wastewater irrigation has recently emerged as a focus of study in the developing world where its use by urban and peri-urban farming communities is increasingly becoming popular (Rutkowski et al., 2007). Wastewater may supply organic matter and mineral nutrients that are beneficial to crop production, and reduces the cost of fertilizer application. In arid regions, wastewater is especially valued as an additional resource besides the added benefits from its nutrient contents (Van der Hoek et al., 2002). However, urban wastewater may also contain hazardous substances including heavy metals and pathogenic micro-organisms (Siebe and Cifuentes, 1995; Flores et al., 1992). These substances may eventually harm the environment, human health, soil, groundwater and crops. So any decision-making related to wastewater reuse should consider both positive and negative aspect (Haruvy, 1998). WHO (1989) provides a guideline for the use of wastewater for various purposes.
Wastewater agriculture has been a traditional practice in the peri-urban areas of Rajshahi city. A network of open drains collects domestic sewage and discharges through three main canals to the Baraonai river about 12 km away from the city (Clemett et al., 2006). Wastewater is lifted from these canals for irrigation and aquaculture ponds. Although farmers enjoy direct economic benefits from this wastewater reuse, residents in these areas have complaints of diseases and degrading air and soil quality. A sewage treatment plant for the Rajshahi City Corporation area is planned to be constructed by 2010 (WARPO, 2001). If wastewater reuse can be managed under an institutional arrangement between the City Corporation and local water users, effluent from this plant can be used to support agriculture in the peri-urban areas. However, the benefits, risks and social acceptance should be assessed before wastewater is reused in any form.
Objectives with specific aims and possible outcome:
The objectives of the study are to:
(i) assess the opportunity, adverse impact and social acceptance of wastewater reuse in the peri-urban areas of Rajshahi city; and (ii) explore a feasible institutional arrangement for long-term wastewater reuse in the area.
Possible outcome: The study is expected to provide an understanding of the economic benefit and adverse impact of wastewater reuse in peri-urban areas. This study is also expected to present an institutional framework for management of wastewater reuse in the study area, which can be replicated in other peri-urban areas.
Outline of the methodology:
Benefits of wastewater reuse will be assessed through questionnaire survey among wastewater users and non-users in the study area. The survey will focus on production, quality of product, economic return, fertilizer use and alternate irrigation options. Wastewater quality will be assessed through laboratory analysis of selected parameters including pH, BOD, TDS, SS and NO3 using the laboratory facilities at IWFM. Adverse impact on public health like hookworm/bacterial infections, incidence of cholera and typhoid, and frequent incidence of other diseases will be also assessed through questionnaire survey in the study area and a control site where wastewater is not being reused. Environmental impact of wastewater reuse on land fertility, soil, water and air quality, and biological balances (including weeds, pests and eutrophication) will be analyzed by reconnaissance and questionnaire survey. The feasibility of an institutional arrangement for future wastewater reuse management will be assessed through interviews with the City Corporation officials and wastewater users.
References:
Clemett, A., Amin, M.M., Ara, S., and Akan, M.M.R. (2006). "Background Information for Rajshahi City, Bangladesh", WASPA Asia Project Report 2, EU Asia Pro-Eco Programme and IWMI.
Flores, D.L., Herna, S.G., Alcala, M.R. and Maples, V.M. (1992). "Total contents of cadmium, copper, manganese and zinc in agricultural soils irrigated with wastewater from Hidalgo, Mexico", Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient, 8, 37-46.
Haruvy, N. (1998). "Wastewater reuse: regional economic considerations", Journal of Resource, Conservation and Recycling, Elsevier Science Ltd., 23, 57-66.
Rutkowski, T., Sally, L.R. and Buecher, S. (2007). "Wastewater irrigation in the developing world: two case studies from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal", Journal of Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier Science Ltd., 88, 83-91.
Siebe, C. and Cifuentes, E. (1995). "Environmental impact of wastewater irrigation in central Mexico: an overview", International. Journal of Environmental Health Research, Elsevier Science Ltd., 5, 161-173.
Van der Hoek, W., Ul Hassan, M., Ensink, J. H. J., Feenstra, S., Raschid, S. L., Munir, S., Aslam, R., Ali, N., Hussain, R., Matsuno, Y. (2002). "Urban Wastewater: A Valuable Resource for Agriculture", International Water Management Institute, Research Report 63, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
WARPO (2001). "National Water Management Plan" (Approved by National Water Resources Council on March 31, 2004), Volume 4: Regional Plan, Water Resources Planning Organization, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
WHO (1989). "Health Guidelines for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture", World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Report Series 778, Geneva.
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