Assessment of wastewater quality discharged from common effluent treatment plant (CETP) and its impact on irrigated soil around Jajmau, Kanpur, India

The present study is undertaken to assess the concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn and Pb) in treated wastewater discharged from the Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and in the wastewater-irrigated soil around Jajmau in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The wastewater irrigation applied for a long time had a severe effect on irrigated soil and human health. High concentrations of HMs were reported both in collected wastewater samples (Fe>Zn>Mn>Cr>Cu>Cd>Ni>Pb) and soil samples (Fe>Zn>Cr>Cu>Ni>Mn>Pb>Cd) from the agriculture fields. The physicochemical characteristics of wastewater are analyzed using parameters such as color, pH, temperature, BOD, COD, TDS, EC, TN, sulfate, phosphate, potassium and chloride. For the assessment of the physicochemical properties of soil, pH, soil texture, soil moisture, EC, SOM, TOC, available nitrogen, available sulfate, available phosphorus and available potassium were considered. The study will be beneficial for providing the theoretical and statistical data to support wastewater treatment and the merits and demerits of reusing wastewater for irrigation. The outcome is also important in view of the safe and sustainable use of treated wastewater for irrigation, reducing the pressure on freshwater resources and supporting the growth of agriculture while protecting public health and the environment.