The Use of Wastewater in Irrigation as a Way for Fresh Water Protection

摘要

The main sources of pollution of surface waters are untreated or insufficiently treated household and industry wastewater; meteoric and other waters from polluted air basin which are polluting the surface waters with a wide range of various pollutants,thus violating their ecobalance.They can contain toxic matters that are difficult to identify and the harmful affect of which are not yet studied.Having a good understanding of the above statements,still,the unsparing operation of water facilities goes on,thus irreversibly changing their natural rotation with different pollutants.Maintenance of the ecobalance of surface waters is a critical problem that requires an immediate solution.Use of wastewater for irrigation purposes can partially solve the problem; it involves more targeted use of the scarce stock of fresh water,while at the same time ensuring reliable supply of water rich in nutritients for farmers.Such exchange has also a positive environmental effect since it leads to decrease in wastewater runoff to the natural waters as well as to accumulation of nutrients contained in wastewater in soil.Currently,use of wastewater is largely practiced throughout the world; and this enables to bring closer the demand existing in different spheres of water use to the existing supply in low-water areas.Motivations for wastewater use are certainly different in developed and developing countries; however the growth in the number of world population,lack of sufficient food,global warming,water scarcity,and the growing level of pollution of the nature are global problems that make the treated water a valuable resource.Therefore,by applying treated wastewaters,not only environmental problems but also problems of household and economic significance are solved.The paper considers modernization of water distribution,water quality and standards,legal and institutional framework,and financial mechanisms for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of wastewater use in agriculture; development of comprehensive planning system for setting up bases for wastewater using process that will enable to determine and clearly present the core standards of management system,identify the problems and clarify the ways for solution thereof,and define the functions of agencies involved in the process.