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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427308
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Lettuce, Spinach, Celery, Melon, and Related Species

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Agricultural irrigation using treated wastewater: Challenges and opportunities

Author
item OBIJIANYA, CHRISTIAN - Purdue University
item YAKAMERCAN, ELIF - Bursa Technical University
item KARIMI, MAHMOUD - Non ARS Employee
item VELURU, SRIDEVI - Non ARS Employee
item Simko, Ivan
item ESHKABILOV, SULAYMON - North Dakota State University
item SIMSEK, HALIS - Purdue University

Submitted to: Water
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2025
Publication Date: 7/11/2025
Citation: Obijianya, C.C., Yakamercan, E., Karimi, M., Veluru, S., Simko, I., Eshkabilov, S., Simsek, H. 2025. Agricultural irrigation using treated wastewater: Challenges and opportunities. Water. 17(14). Article 2083. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142083.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142083

Interpretive Summary: Given increasing challenges like water scarcity and extreme weather, sustainable irrigation is crucial for agriculture. Reusing treated wastewater offers a solution to meet water demands and boost food security. This water can be treated to high standards for various uses, including agricultural irrigation. This paper explores the dual nature of treated wastewater in agriculture—as both a valuable resource and a potential hazard. It emphasizes that modern treatment technologies are essential to ensure its safe and sustainable use. Handled correctly, treated wastewater reuse holds immense potential for alleviating water scarcity and fostering sustainable agriculture and global food security.

Technical Abstract: Reusing and recycling treated wastewater is a sustainable approach to meet the growing demand for clean water, ensuring its availability for both current and future generations. Wastewater can be treated in such advanced ways that it can be used for industrial operations, recharging groundwater, irrigation of fields, or even manufacturing drinkable water. This strategy meets growing water demand in water-scarce areas while protecting natural ecosystems. Treated wastewater is both a resource and a challenge. It is nutrient-dense and can increase agricultural output while showing resource reuse and environmental conservation. However, high treatment costs, public acceptance, and contamination hazards limit its use. Proper treatment can reduce these hazards, safeguarding human health and the environment while enhancing benefits, including a stable water supply, nutrient-rich irrigation, higher crop yields, economic development, and community resilience. On the one hand, inadequate treatment leads to soil salinity, environmental degradation, and hazardous foods. Examining the dual benefits and risks of using treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation, this paper investigates the complexities of its use as a valuable resource and as a potential hazard. Modern treatment technologies are needed to address these difficulties and to ensure safe and sustainable use. If properly handled, treated wastewater reuse has enormous potential for reducing water scarcity and expanding sustainable agriculture as well as global food security.