Performance of Drip Tapes Applying Reverse Osmosis Reject from the Carnaúba Wax Industry

Water scarcity and the search for alternative water reuse are challenges faced in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The objective of this study was to predict the risk of clogging of drippers based on water quality attributes and to analyze the effects of industrial residual water and supply water on their hydraulic performance. Two experimental benches were set up in a completely randomized design, in split-split plots, with three replicates. Plots contained the types of water (supply water and reverse osmosis reject), subplots contained the types of non-pressure-compensating drippers (NST - 1.6 L h(-1), NSL - 1.6 L h(-1) and NDT - 1.7 L h(-1)) and sub-subplots contained the evaluation times of the distribution uniformity coefficient and relative flow rate (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 hours). At times 0, 80 and 160 hours, the attributes pH, electrical conductivity, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese were characterized in both types of water. The data were subjected to descriptive analysis, ANOVA and Tukey test at 5% probability level. In residual water, the attributes that represented a risk of clogging for drippers were pH, electrical conductivity, magnesium and total dissolved solids, while in supply water only pH represented risk. The interaction between types of water and operating time significantly affected both hydraulic performance indicators, but there was no significant effect of the dripper type factor.