Watering of landscape plants using wastewater treated with terminalia catappa

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the antibacterial properties of Terminalia cattapa (TC) leaves and also to explore the feasibility of using it with domestic wastewater effluent for reuse purposes. Previous study conducted in UTM have shown the potential of using domestic wastewater in watering landscape plants where chlorine was use to disinfect the wastewater. Since chlorine application produce residual effect, TC leaves offers another potential to be applied together with the domestic wastewater in order to eliminate bacterial contamination. From analysis conducted, TC leaves in blended form with wastewater yield better results compared to cut and original leave form. In this study, effluent from domestic wastewater oxidation pond was collected and applied daily to two landscape gardens with a surface area of 1.5 m x 1.0 m x 0.3 m where both plots were planted with five different plants. The difference between the two plots are one is applied with wastewater and TC leaves meanwhile the other one is applied with wastewater only and stand as a control. Wastewater effluents collected were analysed for BOD, COD, E. coli, phosphorus, ammoniacal nitrogen and pH. From the result obtained all samples treated using TC leaves shows 98% removal of E. coli numbers after 5 days treatment. In order to compare bacterial removal, analysis on residual chlorine was also carried out, result obtained shows that even though chlorine is effective in eliminating bacteria it has residue effect which is harmful to human or plants and insects. Treated sewage effluent applied to landscape plants produce better growth when compared to untreated wastewater. The results obtained showed positive growth increment for wastewater with TC leaves in terms of height and width for all plants except for Elephantopus scaber (Es) which thrive more when applied with wastewater.