Sustainable wastewater reuse for agriculture
Article
Christou, A., Beretsou, V., Iakovides, I., Karaolia, P., Michael, C., Benmarhnia, T., Chefetz, B., Donner, E., Gawlik, B., Lee, Y., Lim, T., Lundy, L., Maffettone, R., Rizzo, L., Topp, E. and Fatta-Kassinos, D. 2024. Sustainable wastewater reuse for agriculture. Nature Reviews Earth and Environment. 5 (7), p. 504–521. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00560-y
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | Sustainable wastewater reuse for agriculture |
Authors | Christou, A., Beretsou, V., Iakovides, I., Karaolia, P., Michael, C., Benmarhnia, T., Chefetz, B., Donner, E., Gawlik, B., Lee, Y., Lim, T., Lundy, L., Maffettone, R., Rizzo, L., Topp, E. and Fatta-Kassinos, D. |
Abstract | Effective management of water resources is crucial for global food security and sustainable development. In this Review, we explore the potential benefits and challenges associated with treated wastewater (TW) reuse for irrigation. Currently, 400 km3 yr−1 of wastewater is generated globally, but <20% is treated, and of that TW, only 2–15% is reused for irrigation depending on region. The main limitation of TW for irrigation is the inability of current treatment technologies to completely remove all micropollutants and contaminants of emerging concern, some of which have unknown impacts on crops, environment and health. However, advanced water treatment and reuse schemes, supported by water quality monitoring and regulations, can provide a stable water supply for agricultural production, as demonstrated in regions such as the USA and Israel. Such schemes could potentially serve a net energy source, as the embedded energy in wastewater exceeds treatment needs by 9 to 10 times. Agriculturally useful nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium could be also recovered and reused. TW reuse for irrigation could act as a major contributor to a circular economy and sustainable development, but the first steps will be funding and implementation of advanced and sustainable treatment technologies and social acceptance. |
Sustainable Development Goals | 6 Clean water and sanitation |
Middlesex University Theme | Sustainability |
Research Group | Urban Pollution Research Centre (UPRC) |
Publisher | Nature Research |
Journal | Nature Reviews Earth and Environment |
ISSN | |
Electronic | 2662-138X |
Publication dates | |
Online | 06 Jun 2024 |
Jul 2024 | |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 17 Apr 2024 |
Deposited | 21 Jun 2024 |
Output status | Published |
Accepted author manuscript | File Access Level Open |
Copyright Statement | This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use (https://www.nature.com/nature-portfolio/editorial-policies/self-arch...), but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00560-y |
Additional information | A view-only version of the published article is available via the Springer Nature SharedIt link: https://rdcu.be/dKiNK A correction was published 23/09/2024 at https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00598-y |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00560-y |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:001243269500001 |
Related Output | |
Has version | https://rdcu.be/dKiNK |
Is referenced by | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00560-y |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/152z92
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