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Following the Water: Characterising de facto Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture in the Netherlands

Author

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  • Jack E. Beard

    (Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
    KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands)

  • Marc F.P. Bierkens

    (Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Deltares, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Ruud P. Bartholomeus

    (KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
    Soil Physics and Land Management, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

De facto (or indirect) wastewater reuse is the practice of extracting from surface water bodies which are impacted by treated wastewater (TWW) for anthropogenic use. The extent to which surface water bodies in the Netherlands are impacted by TWW is poorly understood, and the distribution of de facto reuse even more so. This study addresses these knowledge gaps, with a focus on reuse for agricultural irrigation. This is achieved via a novel application of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Explorer water quality model, allowing for the distribution of different flow components—namely TWW and flow from transboundary rivers—to be discerned for the national surface water network. When paired with data on surface water extractions for irrigation, this identifies notable areas of de facto reuse. Results show that during dry conditions, TWW is a significant flow component in many surface water bodies, particularly in smaller streams located close to WWTPs. De facto reuse is indicated as widespread, with several key areas identified in which extractions are from impacted surface water bodies. This study represents a first attempt to directly link TWW emissions to agricultural irrigation, highlighting a mechanism by which wastewater-associated contaminants can propagate through the hydrological system.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack E. Beard & Marc F.P. Bierkens & Ruud P. Bartholomeus, 2019. "Following the Water: Characterising de facto Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture in the Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:5936-:d:280225
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedrero, Francisco & Kalavrouziotis, Ioannis & Alarcón, Juan José & Koukoulakis, Prodromos & Asano, Takashi, 2010. "Use of treated municipal wastewater in irrigated agriculture--Review of some practices in Spain and Greece," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(9), pages 1233-1241, September.
    2. Ricart, Sandra & Rico, Antonio M., 2019. "Assessing technical and social driving factors of water reuse in agriculture: A review on risks, regulation and the yuck factor," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 426-439.
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    Cited by:

    1. G. J. Pronk & S. F. Stofberg & T. C. G. W. Dooren & M. M. L. Dingemans & J. Frijns & N. E. Koeman-Stein & P. W. M. H. Smeets & R. P. Bartholomeus, 2021. "Increasing Water System Robustness in the Netherlands: Potential of Cross-Sectoral Water Reuse," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(11), pages 3721-3735, September.
    2. Klara Ramm & Marzena Smol, 2023. "Water Reuse—Analysis of the Possibility of Using Reclaimed Water Depending on the Quality Class in the European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Tang, Darrell W.S. & Bartholomeus, Ruud P. & Ritsema, Coen J., 2024. "Wastewater irrigation beneath the water table: analytical model of crop contamination risks," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).

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