Plant Growth Trials on Harvested Water and Waste Sludge from a Macro-Pervious Pavement System in Central Scotland

摘要

This paper reports on ongoing research into the potential use of a macro-pervious pavement system in central Scotland as a source of local irrigation water for use in the summer months. Chemical analysis revealed that, after the first application of de-icing salt in winter, the water has a sodium content which is too high for harvesting for irrigation use and that it remains so until the salt is flushed out by spring rains. However water collected in May was used in a growth trial and plants irrigated with this water showed no significant difference in growth compared to control plants irrigated with de-ionised water. With a view to facilitating maintenance of the system, a preliminary growth trial was used to investigate the effects of disposing of the liquid sludge from the system's separator channels on adjacent planted areas. The results showed that there seems to be no deleterious effects on the plants used but further work would be required if long term effects are to be ruled out.