Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 International Journal of Energy and Water Resources (2019) 3:269–276 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-019-00036-6 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Periodic determination of physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of wastewater efuents for possible reuse as irrigation water J. R. Adewumi 1  · F. O. Ajibade 1,2 Received: 9 July 2019 / Accepted: 24 July 2019 / Published online: 3 August 2019 © Islamic Azad University (IAU) 2019 Abstract A comprehensive understanding of wastewater characteristics is vital in the design and operation of collection, treatment, and disposal facilities and the engineering management of environmental quality. Municipal wastewater generated from the Federal University of Technology, Akure and discharged untreated was determined for feasible irrigation reuse. In this study, physicochemical (odour, temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, total hardness, pH, alkalinity, chlorides, nitrates, and phosphates) and bacteriological parameters (total bacterial count and total coliform) of wastewater were examined. The maximum value (1408 mg/L) of the total dissolved solids was found in the sample collected from Akindeko hall in the evening and the pH values ranges between 7.09 and 8.41. Maximum nitrate is 58.2 mg/L in the sam- ple collected from Abiola hostel, phosphate is 43.4 mg/L in Akindeko hostel, and chloride is 243.2 mg/L in Abiola hostel. The total bacterial count and total coliform count range from 93.67 to 148.33 mg/L and 115.33 to 136 mg/L. The fndings of the study conclude that the wastewater quality of the university’s halls of residence was above the standard value of the United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for irrigation reuse when compared. This implies that its usage for irrigation without treatment should be prohibited, since it adversely afects the soil’s properties and releases hazardous substances to the environment. It is, therefore, recommended that a sustainable treatment system be provided to adequately treat all wastewater generated from the university and prevent extra expenses for soil treatment while reutilize for irrigation to supplement natural rainfall for agricultural purposes. Keywords Water · Wastewater · Wastewater reuse · Irrigation · Environment Introduction Wastewater characterization is now regarded as an essen- tial step yielding all the necessary information for a relia- ble modelling and design of biological treatment processes for the reuse of wastewater to compensate for the shortage and scarcity of water. The composition of wastewater var- ies greatly according to its origin (i.e., bathroom, laundry, or kitchen greywater) and is infuenced by diferent plumb- ing fxtures (shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, etc.). The source not only generates diferent amounts of wastewa- ter, but also diferent pollutant sources and loads (Friedler 2004; Muhirwa et al. 2018; Chys et al. 2018). Wastewa- ter/water characteristics play an important role when they are evaluated for the possibility of reuse, including the need for treatment (Ajibade et al. 2014a, b; Braga and Varesche 2014; Ilori et al. 2019). The efects of untreated or poorly treated wastewater can be detrimental to public health, the environment, and the economy. If implemented under uncontrolled or unregulated circumstances, poorly treated wastewater can be harmful to lives (if ingested directly or through irrigated crops) and irrigated soil (due to the chemicals and potential bacteria within the efuent) (Adewumi et al. 2010; Shakir et al. 2017; Libutti et al. 2018). Public health aspects, especially the presence of xenobiotic organic compounds and heavy metals, must be * F. O. Ajibade foajibade@futa.edu.ng J. R. Adewumi jradewumi@futa.edu.ng 1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China