Wastewater Reuse for Irrigation: an Acceptable Soil Conditioner?

Abstract

Under conditions of severe water deficiency in the Middle East, an actual problem is the agricultural use of non-conventional water, which is a specific case of simultaneous purification and utilization of soil ecological systems. However, this poses a number of ecological problems connected with soil protection, surface and groundwater contamination and obtaining yield crops of good quality. This paper shows the authors' experiences in the field relevant to the problem. It indicates the problems connected with wastewater and provides information on present reuse practices and future prospective uses of treated wastewater for irrigating agricultural crops, within acceptable levels of risks in Bulgaria and Cyprus. The data and results which are included in the paper are based on experimental research in experimental farms near Sofia (Bulgaria) and Athalassa (Cyprus).

Under conditions of severe water deficiency in the Middle East, an actual problem is the agricultural use of non-conventional water, which is a specific case of simultaneous purification and utilization of soil ecological systems. However, this poses a number of ecological problems connected with soil protection, surface and groundwater contamination and obtaining yield crops of good quality. This paper shows the authors' experiences in the field relevant to the problem. It indicates the problems connected with wastewater and provides information on present reuse practices and future prospective uses of treated wastewater for irrigating agricultural crops, within acceptable levels of risks in Bulgaria and Cyprus. The data and results which are included in the paper are based on experimental research in experimental farms near Sofia (Bulgaria) and Athalassa (Cyprus).