The effectiveness of a plant integrated lowcost treatment system to treat well water in coastal regions

The present study aimed to quantify the treatment capacities of medicinal plant materials integrated into low-cost water treatments system (LCWTS) to treat well water in the coastal regions of Jaffna and Dikowita in Sri Lanka. Terminalia arjuna roots, Strychnos potatorum seeds, and Phyllanthus embli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water practice and technology 2022-11, Vol.17 (11), p.2242-2258
Main Authors: Rathnayaka, R. M. C. Y., Amarathunga, A. A. D., Bellanthudawa, B. K. A., Rathnasri, P. A. S. A., Novak, A. T., Amarasiri, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coastal waters
coastal well water
Coastal zone
Coasts
Contamination
Drinking water
Flowers & plants
Fluorides
Groundwater
Herbal medicine
Households
low-cost treatment system
Magnesium
Medicinal plants
Parameters
phyllanthus emblica
removal efficiency
Rural areas
Seeds
strychnos potatorum
terminalia arjuna
Treated water
Water analysis
Water purification
Water quality
Water quality standards
Water sampling
Water treatment
Well water
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Summary:The present study aimed to quantify the treatment capacities of medicinal plant materials integrated into low-cost water treatments system (LCWTS) to treat well water in the coastal regions of Jaffna and Dikowita in Sri Lanka. Terminalia arjuna roots, Strychnos potatorum seeds, and Phyllanthus emblica leaves were employed to design LCWTS. Paired t-tests were performed to explore water quality parameters of well water before and after treatment. Treated well water was compared with the Sri Lanka Standard Institute and Central Environment Authority. The water quality parameters of treated water samples were significantly different (p < 0.05) in three filter media. Further, ammonia, total hardness, and alkalinity concentrations in drinking water exceeded the tolerance limits. The most effective LCWTS was Terminalia arjuna while Strychnos potatorum seeds was the least effective LCWTS. Terminalia arjuna roots were the most effective filter medium due to its specific phytoremediation capabilities for water filtration and Phyllanthus emblica leaves were good in adsorbing contaminants in water. Hence, the present study showed that Terminalia arjuna and Phyllanthus emblica can be used as potential LCWTS to treat the water quality of total hardness, conductivity, ammonia, total suspended solids, alkalinity, and chloride concentrations.
ISSN:1751-231X
1751-231X
DOI:10.2166/wpt.2022.111