Different secondary wastewater treatment techniques as potential irrigation water resources: a comparative analysis and case study

Abstract Managing wastewater is essential for protecting both human health and the environment. In secondary wastewater treatment, three widely utilized methods include stabilization ponds, activated sludge, and trickling filter systems. Prior studies have examined these three methods individually, without a direct comparison of their technical and economic aspects. This research addresses the gap by thoroughly comparing these methods to identify the most efficient, affordable, and practical solution for large-scale irrigation by assessing and selecting the most efficient wastewater treatment technique, with the aim of using the treated water as a water resource for irrigation to combat water scarcity issues. This study assesses the Jabal Al Asfar plant's performance, the largest in the middle east,based on output, water use, and land. this study also conducts a partial environmental impact assessment of wastewater treatment methods evaluating the potential environmental consequences. When evaluating the residence time a standardized efficiency benchmark (85%) where the evaluation considers key performance indicators, including treatment efficiency, energy consumption, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact. Trickling filters treated wastewater the fastest (1.57 days), but they come with higher costs and maintenance. Stabilization ponds took significantly longer, with plug flow reactors requiring 6 days in the summer and around 9 days in the winter, while continuous flow reactors needed approximately 20 days in summer and 27 days in winter. Activated sludge was the least efficient, taking about 11 days for processing.