Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture (SUWA)

Looking at treated wastewater as a sustainable way to supplement irrigation water needs, this idea also supports SDG 12 (Sustainable consumption and production), particularly in agricultural production. More than 20 million hectares of land were being irrigated with wastewater by 2010 (FAO 2010). However, a more recent study revealed that this number could be much higher if the indirect use of it, such as the use of wastewater diluted in fresh water, especially in urban settings, is included in the estimations (Thebo et al. 2017). Mainly, wastewater is used for irrigating non-leafy vegetables and water lawns or gardens. Global changes – population growth, rapid urbanisation, and climate change among others – add pressure on freshwater resources, driving millions of farmers to make use of wastewater.

While the increasing use of wastewater in agriculture is a positive sign for the circularity of resources, unfortunately, much of it is not based on any scientific criteria ensuring its safe use. Due to a lack of awareness or poverty, there is continued use of blackwater – wastewater that contains human waste –instead of greywater – wastewater generated without faecal contamination. Various forms of materials found in wastewater such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria may pose a major risk to the health of its end user. The benefits of water reuse may come at the cost of public health, if not managed properly.

Progress towards Target 6.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals will also help achieve the SDGs on health and wellbeing (SDG 3), safe water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15), among others.

There are as many opportunities for wastewater use as there are benefits. Given how nature’s cycles of water, nutrients, and carbon are all interconnected, exploiting these linkages enables us to unlock multiple functions within the whole system. Spanning across the nexus of water, soil, and waste, wastewater use is an excellent example that naturally explains the importance of the integrated management of these three resources, as embodied in nexus thinking.

When we talk about “protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes”(sic) as demanded by Target 6.6 of the SDGs, it is fundamental that we also look to the big picture and study the synergies and trade-offs of different processes to better inform the way we handle the individual resources.

On Building Capacity

In order to bolster all-around sustainable development, we need a holistic approach towards it. A combination of capacity development on various levels ensures that we not only address sustainability issues at the individual but also at the systemic level.

UNU-FLORES’s SUWA initiative took on capacity development on two main levels: national (including grassroots) and individual. Together, it allows for a more sustainable outcome in the imparting of knowledge and skills as well as achieving the safe use of wastewater in agriculture.

The Lima workshop that took place in 2016 provided insight on hotspot areas where SUWA needed to be tackled. Researchers and practitioners from around the world shared their experiences during this workshop and helped to identify the future research needs. Many of them offered to continue their support in the years to come, and as seen in the following, this idea did materialise. The workshop launched the opportunity for the SUWA initiative to take on capacity development on the state – to some extent, grassroots – level by working with Member States to advance the good practices of SUWA in their respective countries.

Aligned with Target 6.a calling for the “[expansion of] international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including… water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies”, UNU-FLORES identified opportunities to build capacity in SUWA in four developing countries across three continents: Iran, Mexico, Tunisia, and Colombia.

It is hoped that by inspiring stakeholders in Iran to adopt SUWA, it brings us a step closer towards achieving Target 2.3: “By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers… including through… productive resources and inputs, knowledge… and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.”

The Mexico workshop was attended by the representatives of all stakeholder groups, including several local farmers. The participation of the local community, especially the farmers, was very important not only because it was an opportunity for them to receive information first-hand, in the spirit of local empowerment, but also an opportunity for the non-local experts to learn from them. In the same vein, the local political leadership also contributed to several sessions. Moisés Ramírez (Major of Tepeji del Rio) and María Luisa Pérez Perusquia (President of the Congress, The State of Hidalgo), were notable among them.

With the field visit facilitated by the local stakeholders in Tunisia, efforts were in place to “support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management” (Target 6.b).

As in the Iranian case, introducing the concept of SUWA and having it successfully accepted by the Colombian authorities brings us closer towards achieving Target 2.3. Despite having water availability six times the global average, parts of Colombia have only a tenth of the average levels in terms of access to water supply. In a country where the water demand is increasing in tandem with the growing agricultural sector, SUWA is a key alternative to increase water availability for agriculture in Colombia.

Through the international workshops conducted in developing countries that could benefit most from SUWA, the initiative helped “promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms… as mutually agreed” (Target 17.7).

In particular, the book Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture: From Concept to Implementation (2018) puts together the wisdom gathered from the discussions at the Tehran workshop in one publication. It addresses potential challenges in the process of SUWA implementation and discusses the technical, institutional, and policy opportunities by applying first-hand information on the Middle East and North African region, and Europe.

To reinforce the capacity building done at the national level, the SUWA initiative at UNU-FLORES also took on efforts to enhance individual capacity. From internships to research visits, such endeavours are intended to empower especially the youth to become champions of SUWA in their respective fields and home countries.

Arjun Avasthy (India), Intern (2016)

“Water is a limited resource – optimising its use is essential. Use of wastewater in agriculture could be vital to fight against the water resource scarcity and in addressing risks posed by unsustainable urbanisation and agricultural and industrial intensification. However, the road ahead is still long. At UNU-FLORES, I gained a variety of experiences and skills and having the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals gave me someone to look up to and a goal to work towards. It instilled high work ethic in me and an ambition to go above and beyond what was required.”

Diana Carolina Riano Guzman (Colombia), Intern (2016/17)

“At UNU-FLORES, I had the chance to work with an amazing team of experts (my supervisors) and colleagues (other interns and PhD students) that enrich my experience. I had the chance to pique my scientific curiosity about resource management and different approaches to this theme.”

Read “It Takes Lots of Curiosity, and a Little Confidence” in full

Ana Lilia Velasco Cruz (Mexico), Visiting Scholar (2018)

“SUWA is one important piece of the puzzle to counter global threats such as water scarcity and natural resources conservation. SUWA could increase the value of wastewater via nutrient recycling in agriculture and thus buffer the increasing worldwide loss of soil fertility. I hope we will finally place emphasis on the ‘S’ without removing the nutrients in SUWA and bring safety to the forefront – through treatments that are environmentally friendly and financially achievable – to minimise the impact of pollution on natural resources via wastewater. Subsequently, implementation according to the local context of different countries will be needed. SUWA is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6. The evident benefits that SUWA could provide to developing countries easily correlate to the increasing interest in and application of wastewater treatment in such countries. UNU-FLORES gave me not only the knowledge on how other countries deal with SUWA but also provided me access to a network of academic experts that deal with the same topic.”

Read “Of Quinoa and Wastewater: An Interview with Ana Lilia Velasco Cruz” in full

Natalia Jiménez Contento (Colombia), Visiting Scholar (2018/19)

“To improve people’s quality of life, we need a solid, inclusive, and holistic environmental policy. SUWA as a concept is attractive for two reasons: it is practical for farmers and by ensuring its safe use, SUWA helps unlock the potential of nutrients found in wastewater. My goal is to give applicable recommendations to the Colombian government for incorporating SUWA as an adaptation strategy to climate change. And I hope this will result in the development of a policy and regulations that can be readily implemented and enforced in a cost-effective way, maximising health and environmental benefits.”

Read “From Lima to Dresden: Natalia ‘Gets Dirty’ for Food Security” and “’Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture Means to Achieve Sustainable Development’: An Interview with Natalia Jiménez” in full