Principals of Reusing Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Discharges for Irrigated Agriculture

Many regions around the world are currently facing water shortages which inhibit development and economic growth. Although some of the allocation problems faced by these regions can be partially alleviated by improving agricultural irrigation efficiencies, another means for substantial water savings involves the reuse of municipal and industrial discharges to offset freshwater demands. In many cases, the pollutants associated with these wastewater discharges are actually valuable crop nutrients (i.e., nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, etc.) that can actually improve crop production while reducing input costs. By utilizing industrial and municipal discharges to augment agricultural production, regions around the world can realize multiple economic gains through improved agricultural productivity, reduced wastewater treatment requirements, and the more efficient use and allocation of water resources.