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Reusing treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation: Chemical risks and local-scale mitigation strategies
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Using treated wastewater to irrigate crops can save fresh water and reduce fertilizer use, but this review of existing research shows it can also introduce heavy metals, harmful "forever chemicals," and even microplastics into our food supply. The good news: farmers can lower these risks with practical steps like treating soil and water on-site, choosing lower-risk crops, and timing water use carefully—though bigger, coordinated solutions are still needed to make this practice consistently safe.
Crop irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW) is practiced globally and can reduce both freshwater and fertilizer needs. However, many contaminants are present in TWW that may harm human and environmental health. These include high salinity, heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, micro- and nanoplastics, and more. Additionally, weather conditions and household and industrial practices impact TWW quality resulting in high variation in TWW composition. This review explores the impact and variability of non-biological contaminants in TWW irrigation as well as contaminant management strategies. While centralized, collaborative solutions are ultimately needed to ensure TWW quality, risk reduction strategies can be used on farms such as onsite soil and water treatment, selection of low-risk crops, and selective timing for the collection and use of TWW. Though recent advances have laid a strong foundation for safer and sustainable implementation, continued efforts are needed to optimize TWW irrigation practices.
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This review pulls together existing research showing that treated wastewater used to irrigate crops often still contains trace drugs, hormones, pesticides, and microplastics that standard treatment doesn't fully remove. While reusing wastewater helps conserve scarce freshwater, the authors say better monitoring and regulations are needed to make sure these lingering contaminants don't build up in our food or harm health over time.
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This comprehensive review explores treated wastewater as an alternative irrigation source for agriculture in water-scarce regions. While treated wastewater can improve soil fertility and crop growth, the review notes concerns about contaminants including microplastics that can accumulate in soil and potentially enter the food chain, emphasizing the need for effective treatment technologies.
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This review examines the wide-ranging impacts of using wastewater for agricultural irrigation, covering effects on soil health, crop safety, and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the many concerns discussed, microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria emerging from wastewater reuse are flagged as growing threats requiring better monitoring and policy responses. For readers interested in microplastics, the paper highlights how irrigation with wastewater is one of the pathways by which plastic particles enter farmland soils and ultimately the food chain.
Water quality for agricultural reuse: integrating risk assessment, governance, and sustainable implementation for resilient food systems
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This review summarizes existing research on reusing treated wastewater for farming. It combines methods for assessing risks from contaminants, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals and PFAS chemicals, and looks at monitoring technologies and policies across several countries, noting gaps in research and regulation.
Co-contaminant risks in water reuse and biosolids application for agriculture
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This review highlights that treated wastewater and biosolids used in farming contain a complex mixture of pollutants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria that enter soil and can be taken up by crops. The combined effects of these pollutants may be greater than the sum of their individual risks, underscoring the need for better safety assessments of recycled water and waste used in food production.
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