Abstract

BATISTA, Rafael Oliveira et al. CLOGGING OF DRIPPERS AND DISC FILTERS BY SEWAGE FROM MATURATION POND. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2009, vol.62, n.1, pp.4957-4966. ISSN 0304-2847.

The method of trickle irrigation has been used for wastewater application due to its high effluent application efficiency and the low risk of contamination of agricultural products and field operators. However, the trickle irrigation systems have emitters that showed high susceptibility to clogging. This study aimed to analyze the obstruction potential of different drip emitters and filter discs with sewage from a maturation pond. To do so, it was set up bench to test three models of drip emitters and a 120-mesh disc filter. Physical, chemical and microbiology analyses of the treated sewage were done. Evaluations of the water application uniformity and the filter system performance were also done. According to the results, it was concluded that the treated sewage presents a high risk of clogging both of the drip emitters and the disc filter. A considerable application uniformity decrease occurred, mainly because of the formation of biofilms due to clogging. The presence of organic particles in the effluent interfered in the performance of disc filter, and the sewage should be subjected to chemical or biological treatment, once it can be applied by fertigation in long periods of time using drip irrigation systems.

Keywords : Biofilm; clogging; wastewater; trickle irrigation.

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