Treated Wastewater for Reuse in Irrigation Practices in Agriculture

The reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is a response to the global challenge of water scarcity exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and, in some cases, inefficient water management. This chapter, delving into the regulatory landscape, presents a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the (i) wastewater reuse standards across countries and international bodies; (ii) treatment technologies essential for transforming wastewater into safe irrigation resources; (iii) the potential impact of the treated wastewater reuse on human health through risk assessment; and (iv) the educational initiatives promoting societal acceptance and understanding of water reuse practices. Through the review of real case approaches, the text critically underscores the importance of treated wastewater reuse in agriculture as a sustainable solution to global water scarcity, discussing all the technical and social practices that ensure the safe, efficient, and socially acceptable implementation of this approach in agriculture practices.