Potential Agricultural Use of Secondary Municipal Effluent in Germany

Abstract

In Northeast Lower Saxony agricultural irrigation has resulted in a tense situation of the groundwater quan-titative balance. The aim of this investigation was to assess the potential use of secondary or tertiary municipal effluent for total or partial substitution of irrigation water. By means of scenario analysis, the irrigation of wheat, maize, potatoes and oilseed rape was evaluated with respect to water quality and economic efficiency. The suitability of widespread application of treated effluent for irrigation is highly dependent on the extent of treatment. In all considered scenarios, the irrigation with effluent presented increased financial returns for the farmers which are affected by local conditions.