advertentieIn dry summers, there may not be enough water to irrigate crops in agriculture and horticulture. Since 2023, treated urban wastewater can be used for this purpose in the Netherlands. There may still be chemical substances and pathogens in this water, so it is important that it is clean and safe enough. The RIVM has therefore developed an assessment framework to determine whether the use of treated urban wastewater is safe for people and the groundwater ecosystem.
In 2024, the RIVM investigated how many chemical substances and pathogens treated wastewater may contain to ensure that crops irrigated with it are still safe to eat.
In this follow-up study, the RIVM looked at the exposure of people via the air and via drinking water and the exposure of the groundwater ecosystem.
Air and Drinking Water
The chance of people getting sick from coming into contact with this treated wastewater via the air is small. This includes people working with the irrigation water, nearby residents, and passersby.
In protected areas where drinking water is made from groundwater, treated wastewater may not be used. There is a risk that pathogens could enter drinking water via groundwater. Outside these protected areas, this is not the case, and the wastewater can be used safely.
Reasons and Recommendations
Since 2020, European legislation has encouraged the use of treated wastewater for irrigation of crops during drought. The Netherlands implemented this legislation in 2023.
The RIVM advises the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)) to develop a tool based on the results of this research that can determine in practice whether the use of treated wastewater is permitted for specific situations.