Threshold Recognition of Water Turbidity for Clogging Prevention during Groundwater Recharge Using Secondary Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plant

The recharge efficiency during artificial groundwater (AGR) is reduced primarily by clogging that triggered suspended particles. However, there are loopholes in the current standards of recharge-water quality for control AGR, and threshold values turbidity to prevent have not been reasonably determined. In this study, secondary effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were injected into saturated sand columns simulate process AGR. Batch experiments under different conditions conducted, numerical modeling particle transport deposition was performed assess processes. Theories single-collector contact interfacial interaction energy applied elucidate possible microcosmic mechanisms. results showed diluted effluent (SE) with turbidities 0.540 ± 0.050, 1.09 1.84 0.060 NTU caused considerable porous media, which decreased relative hydraulic conductivities (K/K0) 13.2%, 17.6%, 83.6%, respectively. filtered SE a 0.160 did cause clogging, K/K0 only 1.70%. attributed particles matrix because they high collision (0.007–1.98) attachment (0.029–0.589 kBT). Finally, paper recommends water should exceed 0.500 AGR practices.