Treated wastewater application in agriculture: potential assessment in the State of Santa Catarina/Brazil

Authors

  • Leonardo Dalri Cecato Masters in Environmental Engineering, Researcher, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4611-3732
  • Maria Elisa Magri Doctor in Environmental Engineering, Professor, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5911-4390

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v14n1.2023.46670

Keywords:

Ecological Sanitation, Irrigation, Reuse, Crops, Circular Economy

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of using treated wastewater in the irrigation of 7 crops produced in the State of Santa Catarina by assessing the current demand for irrigation water in the study area and the future production of treated wastewater. Food production data were collected from the most significant public agricultural institution in the study area to calculate their blue water footprint, given the amount of food harvested. Future wastewater production data were gathered from official reports which present the sanitation plans to be performed by 2035. Geographic Information System tools and risk assessment approaches were used to present and discuss results from quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Results show that the amount of wastewater to be produced in 2035 could not only supply the current irrigation water demand for the selected crops but also allow agriculture to expand without consuming more potable water.

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Author Biographies

Leonardo Dalri Cecato, Masters in Environmental Engineering, Researcher, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

The author holds a degree in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering concluded in 2017 at the Federal University of Santa Catarina and a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering concluded in 2019 at the same institution, working mainly on the following topics: reuse, potential assessment, cost assessment, risk assessment, membrane bioreactors, decentralized sanitation, ecological sanitation, and sewage treatment.

Maria Elisa Magri, Doctor in Environmental Engineering, Professor, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

The author is a Sanitary and Environmental Engineer graduated the Federal University of Santa Catarina UFSC (2006), finishing her master's in 2009 and doctorate in 2013 in Environmental Engineering at the same institution, having also performed a interuniversity doctoral internship at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU, Sweden. Postdoctoral in Biotechnology and Biosciences (2013-2014), and postdoctoral in Environmental Engineering (2016). She has worked in undergraduate and postgraduate
teaching as an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Lavras UFLA (MG), and iscurrently an Associate Professor at the Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. In her current institution, she works in research in the graduate programs in Environmental Engineering (PPGEA) and in Biotechnology and Biosciences (PPGBTC). Besides, she leads the Recovery of Resources in Sanitation Systems Group (RReSSa).

References

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Published

2023-04-30

How to Cite

Cecato, L. D., & Magri, M. E. (2023). Treated wastewater application in agriculture: potential assessment in the State of Santa Catarina/Brazil. Sustainability in Debate, 14(1), 202–215. https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v14n1.2023.46670

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2023): Sustainability in Debate / Sustentabilidade em Debate

Section

Articles - Varia

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