Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture: A Review about Its Limitations and Benefits

María Fernanda Jaramillo and Inés Restrepo
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María Fernanda Jaramillo: Instituto CINARA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760032, Colombia
Inés Restrepo: Instituto CINARA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760032, Colombia

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: For centuries, wastewater has been improperly used in agriculture, presenting potential risks to public health and the environment. In the context of scientific development, and confronted by an increasing water crisis, wastewater reuse merits consideration because the practice helps decrease water use pressure and moderates water pollution. Thus, this article presents a literature review that addresses the effects, both positive and negative, of wastewater use in agriculture, emphasizing the effects on the soil environment. The literature review reveals that, until the 1990s, research studies promoted the use of wastewater for irrigation purposes from a treatment approach, while proposing “end of pipe” conventional solutions. However, more recent research studies (2012–2016) reveal that agricultural reuse significantly affects soil texture properties, while also causing possible alterations of the biomass and microbiota. In addition, research in this period has been oriented to the quantitative evaluation of microbiological risk.

Keywords: water pollution control; agricultural reuse; wastewater reuse; agricultural irrigation; efficient use of water (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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