AGRICULTURAL RECLAMATION USE OF WATER TREATMENT WASTE FROM RIVNE NPP

Abstract

The article addresses the pressing issue of soil degradation in the Rivne region, caused by non-compliance with crop rotations, inadequate fertilization, and the cessation of chemical reclamation measures. Based on the 2024 acidity survey data, it was established that the area of medium- and strongly acidic soils requiring liming amounts to 8,250 hectares.The study emphasizes that soil restoration is a strategic priority of state policy, directly contributing to Ukraine’s fulfillment of Target 15.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The mechanisms for implementing the state program "Financing Measures for the Protection, Reproduction, and Improvement of Soil Fertility" are examined.The purpose of this research is a comparative techno-economic analysis of using quicklime (calcium oxide) versus an alternative reclamant — lime sludge from the Rivne NPP water treatment process — for the liming of acidic soils in the Rivne region. The study employs mathematical modeling methods to determine the application rates of the active substance (CaCO3), accounting for moisture content and the concentration of the reactive component.The results of the study include calculated expenditures for the procurement of liming materials for regional needs. Specifically, a significant difference in cost-effectiveness was identified between quicklime and RNPP sludge. It is demonstrated that the low cost of lime sludge transforms state aid into a viable financial instrument. While state payments cover only a small fraction of the expenses when using quicklime, in the case of lime sludge, the reimbursement amount many times exceeds the cost of the material itself. This allows farmers to allocate the remaining funds toward logistics, application, and the development of design and estimate documentation.The conclusions substantiate that the utilization of the 250,000 tons of accumulated lime sludge from the Rivne NPP serves as an exemplar of the circular economy model. This approach simultaneously addresses the environmental challenge of industrial energy waste disposal and the agricultural challenge of restoring soil fertility.