The Fate of Recycled Water in Restored Wetlands
Start Date
3-17-2025 12:00 AM
End Date
3-17-2025 12:00 AM
Abstract
This research investigates the hydrological fate of treated wastewater used for irrigation at a restored wetland site (Thomas Dairy) near Tigard, Oregon, that is managed by Clean Water Services (CWS). CWS is interested in understanding how treated wastewater moves through plants and soil in ecosystems that might be targeted for recycled water application. Using a water balance approach, we evaluated irrigation inputs, soil infiltration dynamics, and hydraulic conductivity measurements across three soil types with different textures and other properties. Field measurements were collected using advanced sensors (TEROS and ATMOS devices) and laboratory tools (KSAT) to quantify soil hydraulic properties and assess infiltration rates.
We found significant variability in hydraulic conductivity among soil types. Cove Clay exhibited low hydraulic conductivity, with slower water movement due to finer particles, while McBee silty clay loam soils had higher hydraulic conductivity due to coarser soil texture. Trends in matric potential and water content illustrate the dynamic nature of soil hydrology, with shallow soils responding faster to irrigation and environmental changes compared to deeper soils.
These results provide critical insights into the fate of recycled water in restored wetlands, emphasizing the influence of soil characteristics on water storage and movement. These hydrologic assessments will help understand the likelihood of groundwater recharge with different irrigation rates at Thomas Dairy, with the potential to impact water management practices relating to water reuse. In the long run, this assessment will help CWS evaluate sites for water reuse, supporting more sustainable water management and better irrigation practices.
Subjects
Hydrology, Land/watershed management, Soil science, Sustainable development
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43105
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
The Fate of Recycled Water in Restored Wetlands
This research investigates the hydrological fate of treated wastewater used for irrigation at a restored wetland site (Thomas Dairy) near Tigard, Oregon, that is managed by Clean Water Services (CWS). CWS is interested in understanding how treated wastewater moves through plants and soil in ecosystems that might be targeted for recycled water application. Using a water balance approach, we evaluated irrigation inputs, soil infiltration dynamics, and hydraulic conductivity measurements across three soil types with different textures and other properties. Field measurements were collected using advanced sensors (TEROS and ATMOS devices) and laboratory tools (KSAT) to quantify soil hydraulic properties and assess infiltration rates.
We found significant variability in hydraulic conductivity among soil types. Cove Clay exhibited low hydraulic conductivity, with slower water movement due to finer particles, while McBee silty clay loam soils had higher hydraulic conductivity due to coarser soil texture. Trends in matric potential and water content illustrate the dynamic nature of soil hydrology, with shallow soils responding faster to irrigation and environmental changes compared to deeper soils.
These results provide critical insights into the fate of recycled water in restored wetlands, emphasizing the influence of soil characteristics on water storage and movement. These hydrologic assessments will help understand the likelihood of groundwater recharge with different irrigation rates at Thomas Dairy, with the potential to impact water management practices relating to water reuse. In the long run, this assessment will help CWS evaluate sites for water reuse, supporting more sustainable water management and better irrigation practices.