Assessment of the Quality of Effluent from the Zanjan Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant for Potential Reuse in Agricultural and Industrial Applications

Background: Every year, a significant amount of water is consumed worldwide and converted into wastewater.This wastewater can be reused by treating and transforming it into reliable and sustainable water resources for various purposes.The purpose of this study was to assess the viability of reusing the effluent from the Zanjan wastewater treatment plant for agricultural and industrial uses in Group 4. Methods: In order to assess the quality of treated wastewater for agricultural and Group 4 industrial purposes, various parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and coliforms were measured.The results were then compared to the guidelines in Iran, and the quality of the effluent was ultimately interpreted using the Wilcox diagram.Results: The findings showed that the treated wastewater met the required quality standards for both agricultural and industrial Group 4 uses, with no restrictions for reuse.The wastewater was classified in the Wilcox diagram as C3S1, indicating moderate quality for agricultural applications. Conclusion:The average parameters measured in the wastewater fall within the acceptable ranges for agricultural irrigation and industrial use in Group 4. However, the utilization and reutilization of this wastewater necessitate careful planning and consideration of its environmental impacts.Through meticulous planning and effective wastewater management, substantial water resources can be accessed for industrial and agricultural purposes without incurring extra costs.