Water reclamation and intersectoral water transfer between agriculture and cities – a FAO economic wastewater study

Abstract

Cost-benefit studies on replacing conventional agricultural water resources with reclaimed water in favour of cities are still rare. Some results of a study under auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are presented. By means of an illustrative example at Lobregat River basin in Spain, it could be proved that reclaimed water reuse and intersectoral water transfer can result in economic and environmental benefits at the watershed level. The agricultural community faces cost savings in water pumping and fertilising, increases in yields and incomes; the municipality benefits from additional water resources released by farmers. Farmers should be encouraged to participate by implementing adequate economic incentives. Charging farmers with the full cost of water reclamation may discourage farmers from joining water exchange projects. Particularly in regions with water scarcity, investments in reclaimed water reuse and water exchange arrangements usually pay back and are profitable in the long term.

Anaerobic Transformation Kinetics and Mechanism of Steroid Estrogenic Hormones in Dairy Lagoon Water

“…As the scarcity of water supplies grows, wastewater reclamation offers an essential and viable water management solution . It is commonplace to reuse treated municipal wastewater for landscape irrigation.…”

“…As the scarcity of water supplies grows, wastewater reclamation offers an essential and viable water management solution. 1 It is commonplace to reuse treated municipal wastewater for landscape irrigation. The reuse of concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) wastewater on agricultural fields is another feasible and economic water recycling strategy, 2 which can provide nutrients and organic matter for plant growth and offer an alternative water source to reduce the demand for high quality water.…”

Wastewater

“…Amid several benefits, wastewater irrigation and aquifer recharge can generate negative impacts as revealed from the Mezquital Valley in some studies (Jiménez 2008;Heinz et al 2011). For example, research on the health implications of wastewater in the valley indicated that children living in wastewater irrigated areas have higher rates of helminth infections than children not living in wastewater irrigated areas (Jiménez 2008;Heinz et al 2011).…”

Water Reclamation and Reuse

“…The study found the primary factors that impact reuse were cost, water quality, suitability and the need of additional water resources for not only droughtstricken areas but for world-wide use due to the impact of climate change on water resources. A cost-benefit analysis considering the replacement of conventional agricultural resources with reclaimed water to increase city water use was completed (Heinz et al, 2011). Economic and environmental benefits for the watershed could be found when reclaimed water and intersectoral water transfer was considered while also profiting farmers by allowing a cost savings in pumping and an increase in available water resources.…”