Greywater Use in Irrigation: Characteristics, Advantages and Concerns

摘要: Agriculture and urban irrigation import large volumes of clean water to provide for the needs. The shortage freshwater resources is an ever-increasing concern worldwide, particularly in Middle East North Africa, where availability reaching crisis levels chronic stress (Jury & Vaux Jr, 2007). awareness natural limitations this resource growing so, reuse has assumed a great significance. In some countries, like Israel, 70% treated wastewater reused agriculture (Mekorot, Water are being, over decades, intensively explored polluted, it estimated that few years, reached highly values Europe. Portugal already ranking countries with medium (10-20%). According Melo-Baptista, (2002), 87.3% volume used 91.9% inefficiently which represents 219M€/year. amount needed domestic consumption developed around 100-180 L/hab.dia, representing 30-70% required area (Friedler, 2004). increased demand leads new more distant sources / or greater depths, environmental costs economic exploitation. Within context, approaches emerging achieve sensible sustainable management existing researches. fact, avoid deterioration situation imperative consider different such as strategies. Indeed, one ways by we can reduce pressure on town supplies greywater household. use becoming increasingly common both developing cope scarcity. adoption other measures will lead, Portugal, increase efficiency water, agriculture, what allow savings 65 M€/year (Melo-Baptista, 2002). decentralise, alternative rainwater promoted worldwide.