Assessment of Phytorid Treatment System Efficacy for Irrigation Water Quality in Bindapur, South-West Delhi, India

Abstract

Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer an eco-friendly approach for treating diverse wastewaters, including sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents. This study evaluates the performance of a self-sustaining constructed wetland system using Phytorid treatment technology for decentralized wastewater treatment at Bindapur, South West Delhi. The government-operated system was monitored for twelve months (2022–2023), with inlet and outlet water samples collected fortnightly and analysed for irrigation water quality parameters. Key irrigation indices, such as Percent Sodium, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Kelly’s Ratio (KR), Total Hardness (TH), Chloride-Bicarbonate Ratio (CB Ratio), Magnesium Hazard (MH), Permeability Index (PI), and Gibbs Ratio, were calculated to assess irrigation suitability. Results revealed that one inlet sample fell into the C4-S3 category (very high salinity, high sodium), while most samples were classified as C4-S2 (very high salinity, medium sodium). High EC and sodium levels indicated unsuitability for irrigation, particularly in poorly drained soils. The Wilcox Diagram confirmed most samples were unsuitable for irrigation due to high salinity. Diluting treated effluent with low TDS water (<500 mg/L) in a 2:1 ratio could improve suitability. This study provides insights to help policymakers and stakeholders manage treated sewage water for irrigation.