Sustainable Development of an Optimized Design Model for Groundwater Purification Units: A Solution for Irrigation Use in Rural Communities
Received: 18 October 2024 | Revised: 19 November 2024 | Accepted: 23 November 2024 | Online: 19 December 2024
Corresponding author: Wael S. Al-Rashed
Abstract
Groundwater is an essential resource for both irrigation and drinking water, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where it often serves as the only dependable source. However, its quality is increasinlgy threatened by factors such as urbanization, population growth, and the overuse of chemical fertilizers in agriculture. hese challenges are particularly acute in Saudi Arabia, where groundwater quality deterioration poses significant obstacles to sustainable water use. This study proposes an optimized design for groundwater purification units aimed at improving water quality for irrigation. The proposed systems integrate coagulation with advanced purification methods, including nanofiltration or sand filtration, to effectively remove contaminants and enhance groundwater suitability for agricultural use. Nanofiltration excels in removing dissolved salts, organic molecules, and microorganisms, while sand filtration offers an economical solution for reducing suspended solids and turbidity By addressing critical water quality challenges, the model ensures more sustainable agricultural practices and a cleaner water supply for local communities. This research underscores the need for effective water management and purification strategies to safeguard groundwater as a reliable and safe resource for future generations, especially in regions like Saudi Arabia that face severe water scarcity and pollution pressures.
Keywords:
water treatment, groundwater quality, irrigation, groundwater purification, sustainable designDownloads
References
S. Siebert et al., "Groundwater use for irrigation – a global inventory," Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, vol. 14, no. 10, pp. 1863–1880, Oct. 2010.
E.-S. A. Badr and A. A. Al-Naeem, "Assessment of Drinking Water Purification Plant Efficiency in Al-Hassa, Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 11, Jan. 2021, Art. no. 6122.
M. Zaman, S. A. Shahid, and L. Heng, "Irrigation Water Quality," in Guideline for Salinity Assessment, Mitigation and Adaptation Using Nuclear and Related Techniques, Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018, pp. 113-131.
A. Ikem, O. Osibanjo, M. K. C. Sridhar, and A. Sobande, "Evaluation of Groundwater Quality Characteristics near Two Waste Sites in Ibadan and Lagos, Nigeria," Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, vol. 140, no. 1, pp. 307–333, Oct. 2002.
E. S. A. Badr and A. A. Al-Naeem, "Potable Water Quality Assessment in Al-Hassa, Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia," Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, vol. 25, no. 10, pp. 4118-4129, 2016.
A. G. Alghamdi, A. A. Aly, S. A. Aldhumri, and F. N. Al-Barakaha, "Hydrochemical and Quality Assessment of Groundwater Resources in Al-Madinah City, Western Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 8, Jan. 2020, Art. no. 3106.
O. Fallatah and M. R. Khattab, "Evaluation of Groundwater Quality and Suitability for Irrigation Purposes and Human Consumption in Saudi Arabia," Water, vol. 15, no. 13, Jan. 2023, Art. no. 2352.
J.-Q. Jiang, "The role of coagulation in water treatment," Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, vol. 8, pp. 36–44, May 2015.
A. Shahmansouri and C. Bellona, "Nanofiltration technology in water treatment and reuse: applications and costs," Water Science and Technology, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 309–319, Jan. 2015.
J. Wang, D. de Ridder, A. van der Wal, and N. B. Sutton, "Harnessing biodegradation potential of rapid sand filtration for organic micropollutant removal from drinking water: A review," Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 51, no. 18, pp. 2086–2118, Sep. 2021.
Downloads
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Wael S. Al-Rashed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) after its publication in ETASR with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.