Chemical changes of yeast industry wastewater during infiltration in Ruseifa area, Jordan

Water quality changes taking place during the infiltration process of treated wastewater produced by the Yeast Industrial Company, Jordan, are discussed. It was found that the COD, NH 4 + and PO 4 3- contents decreased with depth. More than 80% of NH 4 + and about 95% of PO 4 3 and COD were removed at a depth of 70 cm in the soil profile. However, the electrical conductivity (EC) of the infiltrated water, which was extracted from different depths, increased gradually due to the dissolutional processes of soluble minerals within the soil profile. Furthermore, the probable effect of the irrigation return flows of the treated wastewater used in irrigation on the groundwater resources of the area are discussed. Generally, it was found that land application of this sort of wastewater is an efficient method of further treatment taking into consideration the negligible effects of the wastewater on the groundwater resources in the area.