Effects of waste water irrigation on groundwater quality

Groundwater is an important fresh water source all over the world. It is used for industrial, domestic and agricultural purposes. Because of its lower cost and higher quality (compared with surface water), groundwater is a preferable resource. Although groundwater resources are replenishable; they are not inexhaustible. Water scarcity around the world force people to find alternative sources. One of these alternative sources is irrigation with treated wastewater, but this solution has some negative effects on groundwater quality. In this study, effects of irrigation with zmir Municipality Wastewater Treatment Plant effluent water on Menemen Plain groundwater are tried to be determined. Treatment plant?s effluent contains about 2,000 mg/L chloride concentration. Aquifer in the plain is determined as vulnerable for pollution. Treatment plant?s effluent may cause chloride concentration increase in groundwater. Dilution with Gediz River may be thought as a solution but Gediz River?s water is fourth class according to Quality Criteria of Inland Water Resources Classification. On this respect, possible dilution ratios are calculated and results are evaluated. Keywords: Groundwater, wastewater reuse, irrigation.