Pioneering Sustainable Hydro-Systems in the Caribbean: Renewable Energy Approaches to Wastewater Reuse and Irrigation in the Caroni River Basin, Trinidad and Tobago

This study employs a mixed-methods research design to investigate effective approaches for quantifying the removal efficiencies of key water quality parameters (e.g., BOD-5, COD, TSS, NH4-N, PO4¯³, E. coli) by varying geotextile membrane types and bio-filter media compositions within experimental rigs. The filter performance of the Biochar, Coated Chitosan on Coconut Shell Activated Carbon (CAC), Gravel and Sharp sand profile will be compared when treating reclaimed water (RW), conventional irrigation water (CW), and secondary effluent (SW) from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), using a Wastewater Reuse Prototype (WWR) to assess improvements in treatment performance, increased water supply, and reduced pollution from three (3) sources. This study will demonstrate how Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands, planted with Phragmite Australis plant species, can be used for the treatment of municipal wastewater. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the system’s efficiency in removing pollutants and facilitating nitrification. The previous research at the Guanapo Landfill Project Site demonstrated that specialised plants can slow down water to allow solids to settle, convert contaminants into less harmful substances and support microorganisms that filter and purify water. The treatment resulted in an environmentally acceptable effluent quality. The study will demonstrate how Solar Powered Automated Drip Irrigation (SPDI) system using a pump and solar panels for drip irrigation of Lettuce and Kale, can be used to quantify the water savings, energy consumption (kWh/day), and crop yield (e.g., biomass, marketable yield, water use efficiency) achieved by efficient irrigation. This research will assess Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices (KAP), and Willingness to Pay (WTP) to inform national standards for wastewater reuse. The study will explore the Water-Energy-Food nexus, focusing on the links between crop production risks, renewable energy, and the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture. The final assessments will demonstrate that this innovative approach uses suitable technologies for safe water reclamation in agriculture, promoting environmentally safe and sustainable practices in the Caribbean.