Sewage Water: From Waste to Resource – A Review

Abstract The use of sewage water has curtailed the utilization of water from freshwater sources for irrigation purposes. The treated sewage, which was usually dumped into the freshwater bodies, has now been diverted toward farms for irrigation. Sewage water contains many nutrients and cuts the fertigation demand which makes it a favorable choice over conventional water sources, especially in water-scarce and peri-urban areas. This practice proved to be a boon in some areas as it presented promising results with increase in soil fertility and production. Due to the presence of toxicity of certain contaminants in sewage such as heavy metals, researchers have found sewage water to be detrimental to agriculture and environment. The article focuses on the composition of sewage water and the suitability of water used for irrigation.