Abstract

Wastewater contains a variety of chemical, physical and microbial contaminants which affect soil properties. The study was conducted at Harar city, to identify the impacts of brewery and municipal wastewater soil physico-chemical properties and irrigation water quality. Three irrigation sites were selected purposively and sites were categorized into three groups: Control (non-irrigated), brewery and municipal wastewater irrigated farmland for less than ten years ago and brewery and municipal wastewater irrigated farmland for more than ten years depending on the application of brewery and municipal wastewater and long term application. The irrigation water quality analysis showed that pH was moderately increased; BOD, COD and P concentration were above the permissible limit of FAO prescribed for wastewater irrigation quality. The results showed that bulk density was negatively decreased and moisture contents and total porosity was significantly increased. The soil EC, cadmium, lead available phosphorus, OM and CEC levels was significantly increased with the increasing of wastewater application. Mg2+ was significantly decreased by wastewater application in irrigated farmland. From the results, increase of years of application of brewery and municipal wastewater resulted in significant reduction of BD and Mg2+. The most effective way to eliminate the impact of these brewery and municipal wastewater on the soil is to develop and implement effective wastewater management plan.