5. Utilization of Sewage Water in Agriculture for Irrigation of Crop Plants: A Positive Approach for Maximizing the Wastewater Reuse

Freshwater scarcity and depletion of ground water level in developing countries has made utilizing sewage water in agriculture sector as a common practice. Reusing sewage wastewater is regarded as an old, traditional, cost-efficient as well as economical approach for the irrigation of crop plants. Sewage water is rich in organic nutrients and thus improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil if used sustainably. Organic content found in the sewage water positively impact soil salinity, soil fertility, organic carbon and key elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium ions also enhanced to a great content. Sewage water contains high amount of macro and micronutrients and thus resulting in an increase of growth, development and overall productivity of crop plants. However, utilizing or reusing sewage water has few detrimental effect such as accumulation of toxic or heavy metals in crop plants and thus, impacting human health and environment. Therefore, for mitigating the possible hazards of reusing sewage water for irrigation of crop plants in agricultural sector, sewage water should be properly treated before utilizing for irrigation of crop plants.