Contrasting water management challenges and farmers perceptions regarding treated wastewater use in south-eastern Spain

Keywords: Treated wastewater, irrigation, water scarcity, adaptation, climate change, Spain
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 38

Abstract

Climate change, in interaction with other drivers, has mainly negative consequences for the water cycle in the Mediterranean Basin, including reduced runoff and groundwater recharge, increased crop water requirements, increased conflicts among users, and increased risk of overexploitation and degradation. In this context, the identification and understanding of the requirements and barriers to use treated wastewater by farmers can improve its current management and promote its future use. This work summarizes the most relevant aspects related to the challenges and perceptions of irrigators in the southeast of Spain regarding treated wastewater management. We have designed a questionnaire based on the most relevant issues concerning the use and management of treated wastewater identified in a bibliographic review. Eighteen irrigation communities from the province of Alicante, which account for more than 34,000 irrigators and 53,000 irrigated hectares, have completed the questionnaire between May and November 2021. Irrigators have identified the main reasons for using this resource, its implementation’s advantages and disadvantages, and how to solve the problems identified. The main results indicate that the use of treated wastewater depends on the availability of surface or transferred water resources with which is mixed, or used as the sole supply source, especially during droughts. In contrast, the low production capacity of some wastewater treatment plants, its price, a legal framework that guarantees crop health security, lack of regulation and distribution infrastructures, electrical conductivity, or their effect on the soil and crops are the main factors that influence its acceptance and future development.