Integrated Wastewater Treatment Technology: Efficiency of Lime and Eichhornia crassipes for Agricultural Irrigation

Introduction: wastewater treatment for irrigation is a pressing challenge in rural areas, especially in communities where agriculture depends on contaminated water sources. This study focused on developing a low-cost, sustainable technology tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations.Methods: the efficiency of a combined treatment using lime and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was evaluated in Joa, Ecuador. A completely randomized experimental design was employed to assess changes in key physicochemical parameters, including electrical conductivity, hardness, pH, nitrates, and sulfates, before and after the treatments.Results: water hyacinth reduced water hardness significantly, from 218 mg/L to 154 mg/L of CaCO₃, while lime controlled pH, maintaining it near neutral (7,4) with precise dosing. Despite these improvements, the combination showed limitations in reducing nitrates and sulfates to meet local regulatory standards. Nevertheless, the treatments enhanced overall water quality, making it more suitable for agricultural purposes.Conclusions: the combined use of lime and water hyacinth represents a feasible, eco-friendly solution for treating agricultural wastewater in resource-constrained settings. While effective in improving water quality, further studies are needed to optimize the system, explore scalability, and evaluate its long-term impact on soil and crop productivity