Water Availability and Status of Wastewater Treatment and Agriculture Reuse in China: A Review

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) 2023-04, Vol.13 (5), p.1187
• Main Authors: Kama, Rakhwe, Song, Jibin, Liu, Yuan, Hamani, Abdoul Kader Mounkaila, Zhao, Shouqiang, Li, Zhongyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural industry; Agricultural research; agricultural reuse; Agricultural wastes; Agriculture; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic resources; China; Climate change; Climatic changes; Corn; Environmental health; Environmental impact; Farming systems; Food; Food production; Fresh water; Groundwater; Health risks; Heavy metals; Human influences; Irrigation; Irrigation systems; Irrigation water; Municipal wastewater; Netherlands; Per capita; Population; Productivity; Public concern; Public health; Purification; Reclaimed water; Secondary wastewater; Sewage; Soil fertility; Soil pollution; Surface water; Sustainability; Sustainable agriculture; Wastewater reuse; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Water availability; Water in agriculture; Water pollution; Water quality; Water reclamation; Water resources; Water reuse; Water scarcity; Water shortages; Water treatment; Water-supply, Agricultural
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13051187

Due to climate change, 2/3 of the world’s population will face water shortage problems by 2025, while a 50% increase in food production is required in 2050 to feed nine billion people. In addition, the intensified anthropogenic activities have significantly increased water resource pollution. In this condition, wastewater reuse for crop irrigation to reduce water scarcity is currently becoming global, while it often causes soil pollution and heavy metal accumulation in agricultural areas. This situation has increased public concern over its environmental impact. Thus, an integrated framework was conducted to discuss the status of water availability in China, wastewater treatment and reuse in irrigation systems, and the potential health risks. Avenues for new research toward sustainable agriculture were discussed. We emphasize that wastewater reuse reduces the freshwater deficit and increases food productivity. However, adequate treatment should be applied before use to reduce its adverse impacts on human health risks and environmental pollution. Facilities and policies should support more accessible access to reclaimed water used in industries and urban facilities from secondary municipal wastewater treatment plants. This could be a long-term solution to eradicate water scarcity and inefficient water resources in agricultural systems.