Title: The reuse of wastewater and sludge for cultivation of forestry trees in desert areas in Greece

Authors: Ioannis Kalavrouziotis, Theofanis Hortis, Panagiotis Drakatos

Addresses: Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management in Agrninio, University of Ioannina, Greece. ' Department of Health and Safety, St Cloud State University, USA. ' Department of Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineering, University of Patras, Greece

Abstract: Processed wastewaters and sludges can be used in the irrigation of forest and desert areas for the cultivation of different plant species. Their use in the reforestation of desert areas is particularly interesting because it not only addresses the important modern problems of water shortage and desertification, but also reduces the pollution of aquatic ecosystems that are used as the final recipients of supposedly processed sewage from treatment plants. The analysis of all the parameters (chemical, environmental, geological) that are related to the by-products of the operation of such plants in both small and large municipalities of Greece will allow the disposal of wastes in the aquatic ecosystems to be reduced, and minimise pollution of the coastal and tourist urban regions of the country.

Keywords: forest; forestry; land; reuse; sludge; wastewater; irrigation; desert reforestation; water pollution; pollution reduction; Greece.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005118

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.21 No.5, pp.425 - 439

Published online: 03 Sep 2004 *

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