Yes, it is possible to benefit from treated wastewater in direct agriculture. The health and environmental precautions for this are to ensure that the wastewater is treated to a high enough level to reduce the risk of any contaminants present in the wastewater to an acceptable level. It is essential that the wastewater is tested prior to use in agricultural settings to ensure that it is safe to use. Also, careful consideration should be given to the distance and direction of runoff from the treated wastewater as this could contaminate any other nearby sources of water. In regards to using treated wastewater to maintain vegetative areas, it is possible to do this by adding the wastewater to sand and using it to irrigate the vegetation. Treatment of the wastewater prior to use is still important to reduce any potential for contamination. Additionally, it is important to consider the potential for runoff from the area and the potential for nutrient runoff that could contaminate any nearby water sources. In addition, regular monitoring of the water quality in the area should be conducted to ensure that the water is safe for use.

The use of recycled water is encouraged in California. Wastewater must be treated to conform to secondary or tertiary treatment standards depending upon the type of use including the type of crop for agricultural uses. For specific information please refer to extensive information provided by the California Waterboards (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/recycled_water/). Also, the California Water Code contains requirements for the use of wastewater (California Water Code section 13050).

Just some care is needed, as there are various types of wastewater, pollutants, soils and plant and bacteria ability to to help absorb and breakdown some pollutants in wastewater after at least some degree of settling, aeration, filtration or other treatment. Concerns can be varied depending on the situation including groundwater contamination or passing pollutants into crops or farm animals. Some include forestry in agriculture, and irrigating forest areas, grasslands might be a possibility. Kardos and Sopper at Penn State University published many papers in the 1960-1970s on sewage effluent irrigation that might be beneficial. Some types of hazardous wastewater could be unsuitable, or need specialized remediation before use.

Water is considered waste depending on it application level and the area of usage. Very often than not, waste water should bé treated with sand to make attain the acceptable level for farming. This is because at this treated level pollutants and harmful bacterias most likely to either affect plants or vegetation are neutralised. Even when treated, concern should bé given to runoffs which might still affect the cultivated field if care is not taken.

The environmental and health precuations are all based on the kind of method used to dilute or treat the waste water. Teeatment with simple sand to agreater magnitude has no disastrous effect on the soil neutrients and micro organisms and the environment as a whole. The reverse occurs if any chemical Is used ...

My idea is that it's possible since agricultural wastewater generally much less toxic than industrial wastewater. However, I'm taking POME (Palm Oil Mill Effluent) fo example which is normally high in BOD and Suspended Soild (SS). So, some treatment shall be conducted such that increasing the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) to reduce the BOD level into permitted limit.

It is possible to use agricultural wastewater. Indeed, in a context of climate change in Africa where the resource is becoming increasingly scarce, it is advisable to adopt a system of recycling this resource. The adapted treatment will depend on the type of pollutants encountered, especially concerning pesticides, insecticides and fungicides. A follow-up of this water is necessary on the physicochemical plan and has certain bacteriological levels.and a control of the drainage system must be carried out in order to avoid extending the contamination (case of groundwater).

Dear Musa Al-Shammari ,

I fully agree with Karl's comment. Regarding your low energy requirement, I would like to add that we first biologically convert up to 99% of the organics to biomethane to save fossil fuels for heat and power generation. This reduces the energy consumption of the downstream aerobic biological treatment at least 5 times, while preserving key mineral nutrients (N, P) in the clean water for direct agriculture. We have many reference cases worldwide since 1980 incl. in Karl's California and in your India.

Yes definitely use recycle wastewater for agriculture used. The process of recycle wastewater is costless. If you low cost adsorbent.

Agree, depending on where the wastewater comes from, the presence of organic material can actually be benefitial to nature and crops.

See:

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/wastewater-oasis-greening-desert

and

https://www.dw.com/en/sewage-effluent-fights-desertification-in-egypt/a-19318165

From the practical point of view, it is true wastewater purification is a cost effective process, which requires much high-energy input through the process. It depends the WWTP and which country, the process of recycling and obtain sludge and manure and produce methane is totally a waste, for example up to 40% of methane is being wasted by WWTP, and only 60% is in reserve. One major problem that requires much attention is controlling excess methane instead of burning it.

Solution: how about rebuilding more balloon tanks for gas storage? We could use use it to regenerate more energy, don't we?

second problem: controlling scum formation of activated sludge effluent, this is very important stage of processing sludge in the reactors. More scum is passing through activated sludge effluent, this may results increasing biomass oxygen deposition (BOD), and solids suspensions too.

These problems are currently exists in Europe, and in US too....Now think careful what could we do to reduce the cost and risks for disseminating high quality manure to farmers and recycled sludge /purified water!.

How can we make these processes more sustainable and less risk to agriculture?

yet, and still we have problem of removing/controlling foaming in the activated sludge effluent in many of WWTP, it is a major chaos for famers, and workers in WWTPs.

Dear Uweis Nassor

I agree with you about municipal sewage and its current outdated treatment technology. However, for a broad range of industries (agro, food, beverage, biofuel, ...) it is quite a different story as we have proven worldwide since 1980. Most of our organic wastewaters and wastes to biomethane and clean water projects have been paid back several times by the savings/revenues in energy and waste. As opposed to sewage treatment, we have no scum or foaming issues and our clean water does not contain any hazardous residues. We don't use gas storage (balloons). Any excess biomethane is injected in the public natural gas grid or converted to heat and electric power injected in the LV grid similar to solar and wind power. Please check www.modelengineering.eu . If interested, I would be happy to send you more information via email.

Wastewater will be an important source of water for food production in the coming years, especially in regions that are highly dependent on groundwater.

Dear Julián González-Trinidad ,

You are right. Even in a dense populated country like Belgium, we need to recharge groundwater continuously after full sewage treatment incl. UF + NF/RO with HACCP to ensure safe drinking water quality. This adds to the variable and diminishing rain water input and prevents seawater intrusion in coastal areas.

Musa Al-Shammari Most kinds of wastewater can be directly used to maintain "constructed wetlands", without adding any sand to it. Like this, for instance: https://www.facebook.com/RedSeaGlobal/videos/899409071056981

waste water can never be used in agriculture production. However toxic elements come into fruits or in crop by water -root- leaves-fruits. Arsenic found in paddy in various areas of India.

💦 Yes, it is possible to benefit from wastewater in direct agriculture! ♻️

👨‍🌾 Wastewater can contain valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that can be used to fertilize crops.

🌱 However, it is important to take health and environmental precautions when using wastewater in agriculture. 💪

👀 Wastewater should be treated and tested to ensure that it meets safety standards before it is used in agriculture. 🧪

🚜 In addition, crops should not be irrigated with wastewater too close to harvest time, and farmers should take steps to prevent contact between wastewater and people or animals.

🌍 Using wastewater in agriculture can be a sustainable solution for water and nutrient management, but it requires careful planning and management to ensure that it is done safely and responsibly. Let's work towards a greener and healthier future! 🌿

Waste water should be recycled before applying it to agricultural. Some cases crop was grown but fruits or grains become toxic/ health hazardous..

Wastewater can be used as irrigation water but treatment and quality are regulated by California law in the interest of protecting public health and the related issue of groundwater quality. In California, the use of wastewater for irrigation is regulated by the Water Boards.

Sure my friend, according to the specifications of wastewater treated.