Treated effluents for roadside plants and nurseries

22 Apr 2014 / 09:41 H.
    Treated effluents for roadside plants and nurseries
    A worker at the Port Dickson District Office Nursery watering plants using effluent water. SUNPIX by ADIB RAWI YAHYA
    Treated effluents for roadside plants and nurseries
    Nursery worker checks the effluent water at Port Dickson District Office Nursery. SUNPIX by ADIB RAWI YAHYA
    Treated effluents for roadside plants and nurseries
    Nursery worker checks the effluent water at Port Dickson District Office Nursery. SUNPIX by ADIB RAWI YAHYA
    Treated effluents for roadside plants and nurseries
    Nursery worker watering plant using effluent water at Port Dickson District Office Nursery. SUNPIX by ADIB RAWI YAHYA
    Treated effluents for roadside plants and nurseries
    Nursery worker shows the effluent fertiliser at Port Dickson District Office Nursery. SUNPIX by ADIB RAWI YAHYA

PORT DICKSON: The use of treated effluent water for cleaning and plant care has been proposed for better management of water resources.
Port Dickson district officer Datuk Abdul Khalid Bin Mat said his district was the first in the country to use treated effluent water (sewage, industrial waste and overflow) for plants along roads.
"At a time when some parts of the country are facing water shortage due to the dry spell, using effluent water is beneficial.
"Instead of using treated water to clean cars and water plants, it is better to use treated effluent water so that commercial water can be saved," he said.
The idea of using effluent water came about when the district office found that quite a substantial amount of effluent water was going to waste each day.
They decided to sign an agreement with Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd in 2012 to supply effluent water.
Port Dickson Municipal Council (MPPD) stressed that effluent water can be used only after ensuring that it does not affect public health and that it is environmentally friendly.
The supply of treated effluent water in Port Dickson is from a treatment plant in Bandar Baru Sunggala. A total of 1200 cu m of treated effluent water is produced daily.
TheSun visited a nursery where MPPD is testing effluent sludge on three species of trees – Justicia gendarussa var, Tunera ulmifolia, Loropetalum chinensis.
MPPD Landscape Department officer Juwita Abdul Jalil said after six months, the leaves appeared to be greener and the trees bloomed quicker.
"Effluent sludge contains the same particles as organic fertilisers," said Juwita.
The results indicate that treated effluent water can be a good alternative to treated water for cleaning and nurseries, Juwita added.

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