Smart Water Treatment System for Landscaping Application

Abstract

Water scarcity and pollution are major worldwide issues, especially in arid regions like Oman, where inadequate wastewater treatment and ineffective management lead to significant water waste. This paper presents a smart algae-based water treatment system that utilizes algae-derived bio-adsorbent powder for efficient wastewater purification. Dried algae were calcined at high temperatures to produce a fine powder with strong adsorption capacity for removing heavy metals, organic pollutants, and excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The system integrates an ESP32 microcontroller with pH, turbidity, TDS, and temperature sensors to monitor water quality in real time and ensure optimal treatment conditions. Experimental tests using contaminated water samples over a 72-hour period demonstrated significant improvements in water clarity, toxin reduction, and pH balance after treatment, with turbidity falling from 1000 NTU to 85.3 NTU, total dissolved solids dropping from 1372 PPM to 612 PPM, and pH shifting from 6.83 to a near-neutral 7.97. The treated water showed potential for reuse in agriculture, landscaping, and industrial processes, reducing overall water waste. The proposed IoT-enabled algae powder filtration system offers a sustainable, low-cost, and scalable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods.