Famagusta uses treated wastewater to produce animal feed – BRTK
Famagusta Municipality Utilizes Wastewater to Produce Animal Feed and Reduce Imports
In an effort to reduce costs and promote sustainability, Famagusta Municipality has been producing animal feed plants for the past two years using treated wastewater. This innovative approach aims to utilize the purified water from the Famagusta Wastewater Treatment Plant to grow the roughage needed by livestock farmers, ultimately reducing the reliance on imported animal feed.
With 6 thousand tons of wastewater treated daily at the facility, the purified water is used in the production of corn for animal feed. Famagusta Mayor Süleyman Uluçay shared that the municipality plans to increase production from 80 decares in 2023 to 150 decares in 2024 using water from the wastewater treatment plant.
Further improvements are in the works at the treatment facility, with a focus on converting sludge produced during treatment into fertilizer. Efforts are also being made to enhance the quality of the released water and expand its use among more producers.
Atila Aypar from the Famagusta Municipality Sewage Unit noted that the treated water is directed to the pond, with some of it used directly for corn production. Despite a decline in water quality in 2024 compared to the previous year, steps are being taken to investigate and address the issue.
Yılmaz Gazioğlu, a corn producer using purified water, shared his experience with the changing water quality impacting crop yield. While the yield was good in 2023, it dropped significantly in 2024 due to increased salinity in the water.
Erkut Uluçam, President of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, emphasized the importance of utilizing domestic wastewater to produce quality roughage for animal husbandry. He highlighted the significant cost savings that could be achieved by producing the required roughage locally, rather than relying on imports.
Overall, the initiative by Famagusta Municipality showcases the potential of using treated wastewater to support sustainable agriculture practices and reduce dependency on external sources for animal feed production.
