EVAPONTRANSPIRATION AS A METHOD OF WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

The paper describes the disposal of wastewater by evapotranspiration (ET). In cases where buildings can�t be connected to the sewerage or to domestic treatment plant, a cesspool must be built. Economic burden of transporting and requirements of wastewater recycling have lead to invention of a system, that ensures the quality of wastewater needed for recycling, while maximizing ET through evapotranspiration bed (ET-bed). For actual evapotranspiration (AET) analysis, a laboratory model of ET-bed with water tank was constructed. The water tank is fit with water and atmosphere pressure sensors, and a water pump. Water is transported to the surface of ET-bed, while beds drainage is connected to the water tank. The output data on the level drop in the tank, combined with a nearby meteorological station, are allowing the AET to be analysed. When measuring the AET, values higher then 7 mm/m2/day were measured. In the summer period, totals of around 5 mm/m2/day were regularly achieved. Regression of AET with potential evapotranspiration (PET) yielded R2 = 0.83 for the Oudin method, R2 = 0.75 for the Thornthwaite method, or R2 = 0.76 for the Hargreaves - Allen method. The disposal of wastewater by ET with recycling represents an economically less demanding solution compared to cesspools. The research itself is set to establish a method of designing the system, with regards of functionality in the long term with the simplest possible operation.