metals in wastewater-irrigated soils and crops is very important for the prevention
of potential environmental and human health risks.
• The application of treated wastewater to agricultural soil can affect the structure
and functions of the soil microbiome, mainly owing to the introduction of
exogenous microorganisms, with effects on some physical-chemical properties
of the soil.
• Soil salinization can become a problem in the long term, particularly if wastewater irrigation takes place in soils already affected by salinity problems.
Finally, the assessment of the suitability of treated wastewater in the agricultural
sector cannot be separated from specific scientific studies on the effects of emerging
micro-pollutants (e.g. contaminants of emerging concern, CECs) both on the soilplant system and on human health.
References
1. WHO (2006) Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater. In: Wastewater
use in agriculture, vol 2. World Health Organization, Geneva
2. Jaramillo MF, Restrepo I (2017) Wastewater reuse in agriculture: a review about its limitations
and benefits. Sustainability 9:1734. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101734
3. Gatta G, Libutti A, Gagliardi A, Beneduce L, Brusetti L, Borruso L, Disciglio G, Tarantino E
(2015) Treated agro-industrial wastewater irrigation of tomato crop: effects on qualitative/
quantitative characteristics of production and microbiological properties of the soil. Agric
Water Manag 149:33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2014.10.016
4. COM 2018 /0337. https://eurlex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri¼cellar:e8951067-627c-11e8-ab9c01aa75ed71a1.0001.03/DOC_1&format¼PDF. Accessed 13 Apr 2020
5. 2018/0169 (COD) . https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?
lang¼fr&reference¼2018/0169(COD). Accessed 13 Apr 2020
6. Licciardello F, Milani M, Consoli S, Pappalardo N, Barbagallo S, Cirelli G (2018) Wastewater
tertiary treatment options to match reuse standards in agriculture. Agric Water Manag
210:232–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.001
7. Ventura D, Consoli S, Barbagallo S, Marzo A, Vanella D, Licciardello F, Cirelli GL (2019)
How to overcome barriers for wastewater agricultural reuse in Sicily (Italy)? Water 11:335.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w11020335
8. Pedrero F, Kalavrouziotis I, Alarcón JJ, Koukoulakis P, Asano T (2010) Use of treated
municipal wastewater in irrigated agriculture-review of some practices in Spain and Greece.
Agric Water Manag 97:1233–1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2010.03.003
9. Agrafioti E, Diamadopoulos E (2012) A strategic plan for reuse of treated municipal wastewater
for crop irrigation on the island of Crete. Agric Water Manag 105:57–64. https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.agwat.2012.01.002
10. von Sperling M (2007) Wastewater characteristics, treatment and disposal, vol 1. IWA Publishing, London, pp 1–292
11. Bundi KL, Njeru CW (2018) Use of vegetative wastewater treatment systems for counties’
effluent management in Kenya. RJESTE 1(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/rjeste.v1i1.1S
12. Khan I, Ghani A, Rehman AU, Awan SA, Jawed H, Gul R (2016) The analyses of heavy metal
concentration in soil, wastewater and Raphanus sativus (L.) at three different growth stages.
Pyrex J Res Environ Stud 3:42–48
Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture: Effects on Soil-Plant System Properties
97
of potential environmental and human health risks.
• The application of treated wastewater to agricultural soil can affect the structure
and functions of the soil microbiome, mainly owing to the introduction of
exogenous microorganisms, with effects on some physical-chemical properties
of the soil.
• Soil salinization can become a problem in the long term, particularly if wastewater irrigation takes place in soils already affected by salinity problems.
Finally, the assessment of the suitability of treated wastewater in the agricultural
sector cannot be separated from specific scientific studies on the effects of emerging
micro-pollutants (e.g. contaminants of emerging concern, CECs) both on the soilplant system and on human health.
References
1. WHO (2006) Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater. In: Wastewater
use in agriculture, vol 2. World Health Organization, Geneva
2. Jaramillo MF, Restrepo I (2017) Wastewater reuse in agriculture: a review about its limitations
and benefits. Sustainability 9:1734. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101734
3. Gatta G, Libutti A, Gagliardi A, Beneduce L, Brusetti L, Borruso L, Disciglio G, Tarantino E
(2015) Treated agro-industrial wastewater irrigation of tomato crop: effects on qualitative/
quantitative characteristics of production and microbiological properties of the soil. Agric
Water Manag 149:33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2014.10.016
4. COM 2018 /0337. https://eurlex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri¼cellar:e8951067-627c-11e8-ab9c01aa75ed71a1.0001.03/DOC_1&format¼PDF. Accessed 13 Apr 2020
5. 2018/0169 (COD) . https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?
lang¼fr&reference¼2018/0169(COD). Accessed 13 Apr 2020
6. Licciardello F, Milani M, Consoli S, Pappalardo N, Barbagallo S, Cirelli G (2018) Wastewater
tertiary treatment options to match reuse standards in agriculture. Agric Water Manag
210:232–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.001
7. Ventura D, Consoli S, Barbagallo S, Marzo A, Vanella D, Licciardello F, Cirelli GL (2019)
How to overcome barriers for wastewater agricultural reuse in Sicily (Italy)? Water 11:335.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w11020335
8. Pedrero F, Kalavrouziotis I, Alarcón JJ, Koukoulakis P, Asano T (2010) Use of treated
municipal wastewater in irrigated agriculture-review of some practices in Spain and Greece.
Agric Water Manag 97:1233–1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2010.03.003
9. Agrafioti E, Diamadopoulos E (2012) A strategic plan for reuse of treated municipal wastewater
for crop irrigation on the island of Crete. Agric Water Manag 105:57–64. https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.agwat.2012.01.002
10. von Sperling M (2007) Wastewater characteristics, treatment and disposal, vol 1. IWA Publishing, London, pp 1–292
11. Bundi KL, Njeru CW (2018) Use of vegetative wastewater treatment systems for counties’
effluent management in Kenya. RJESTE 1(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/rjeste.v1i1.1S
12. Khan I, Ghani A, Rehman AU, Awan SA, Jawed H, Gul R (2016) The analyses of heavy metal
concentration in soil, wastewater and Raphanus sativus (L.) at three different growth stages.
Pyrex J Res Environ Stud 3:42–48
Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture: Effects on Soil-Plant System Properties
97