Sustaining Irrigated Agriculture in Mediterranean Countries with Treated Municipal Wastewater: A Case Study☆

Abstract Results of field experiments of wastewater reuse are presented. Fennel and lettuce were irrigated with four different water sources: three reclaimed wastewater streams, obtained by applying different treatment schemes to the same municipal wastewater, and a conventional source. Differences between the three effluents were significant in terms of suspended solids and faecal indicators. Both lettuce and fennel yields were enhanced by the high content of nutrients in the effluent of one of the treatment plants, which had been operated for partial nitrogen removal. Substituting chemical fertigation with the supplying of nutrients contained in the irrigation water enhanced fennel productivity.