A new report released by the UN Food Agency says recycling urban wastewater and using it to grow food crops can help mitigate water scarcity problems and reduce water pollution.Recycled waste water for irrigation.The practice is winning increased attention worldwide and in countries like Spain and Mexico, where a high proportion of reclaimed water is used in irrigation. Farmers would also be able to avoid some of the costs of pumping groundwater, while the presence of nutrients in the wastewater would reduce their fertilizer expenses.
In addition, safely harnessing wastewater for food production can offer solution in water-scarce regions where cities and agriculture compete for water.Properly treated and safely recycled water can potentially offer a ‘triple dividend’ to urban users, farmers and the environment. Use of reclaimed wastewater in agriculture has been reported in around 50 countries on what amounts to 10 percent of the world’s irrigated land.
Charles Appel, United Nations Radio Recycling Wastewater