Assessment of Fresh Water Reallocation by Treated Wastewater for Irrigation

This study investigates the economic feasibility and farmer acceptance of utilizing treated wastewater (TWW) for agricultural irrigation in the Northern Jordan Valley (NJV). Despite its potential to mitigate water scarcity, concerns about soil health, crop yield, and land utilization hinder widespread adoption. The research measures farm profitability and farmers' willingness to embrace TWW through various blending scenarios with traditional surface water sources, incorporating a yield response function to salinity within the profit function. Results reveal that TWW adversely affects salt-sensitive crops like citrus, with net profit declining from US$ 8,666/ha at 0% TWW to US$ 5,152/ha at 100% TWW. Conversely, crops such as date palms and olives maintain stable profitability, with date palms showing minimal variation around US$ 20,370/ha. Economic indicators highlight substantial profit declines for crops like peppers, which drop to US$ 714/ha at 100% TWW. The net value added for citrus decreases from US$ 0.81/m³ to US$ 0.46/m³, while date palms increase from US$ 1.36/m³ to US$ 1.41/m³, indicating resilience to salinity. Farmers' willingness to pay for water varies, exceeding US$ 0.70/m³ for tomatoes and peppers, while olives remain below US$ 0.14/m³. These findings underscore the importance of understanding crop-specific responses to TWW blending and emphasize a holistic approach that considers both economic viability and environmental impacts for sustainable agricultural practices. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2025-06-01-016 Full Text: PDF