Using reclaimed water to cope with water scarcity: an alternative for agricultural irrigation in Spain

Abstract

In water-stressed agricultural regions, reuse of reclaimed water has emerged as a promising alternative that improves supply reliability, alleviates water scarcity and contributes to circular economy. The European Union has recently launched several initiatives to facilitate the adoption of water reuse for irrigation. However, its adoption is still far below its potential in most areas. This is the case of the Western La Mancha aquifer, in central Spain, where reclaimed water reuse is considered an alternative source to groundwater that may contribute to reduce overexploitation. A stakeholder-based Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) was developed to provide insights into the current situation of reclaimed water reuse in this area, as well as to explore the outcomes of different simulated scenarios (cost recovery, agricultural transformation, social awareness and political will increase). The FCM-based dynamic simulations showed that political will increase would generate the highest increase of reclaimed water reuse in agriculture in the study area, providing the highest increase of water reuse in agriculture. Agricultural extensification and increased social awareness delivered similar positive outcomes, however, only public awareness campaigns would increase water reuse, with agricultural extensification outcomes being more oriented towards the reduction of water abstractions and pollution. The cost recovery scenario was the only one that resulted in non-desired changes, mainly caused by reduced farmers’ income due to higher costs of reclaimed water. Finally, the analysis also evidenced the key role that the newly enacted EU Water Reuse Regulation may play in promoting reclaimed water use, even reversing the negative outcomes of the cost recovery scenario.

Uncovering the Dynamics of Multi‐Sector Impacts of Hydrological Extremes: A Methods Overview

“…• Fuzzy cognitive maps (Ballesteros-Olza et al, 2022;Mehryar & Surminski, 2022) • Impact chains (Hagenlocher et al, 2018;Zebisch et al, 2022) • Impact webs (Sparkes, Hagenlocher, et al, 2023) Visual techniques • Rich pictures (Suriya & Mudgal, 2013) Simplify complex ideas and enhance their comprehensibility for a wider audience. Visualize relationships between CCI and response measures over time (Challenges 3 and 5) Comparability between studies is limited as results are highly context-specific.…”

“…Fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM) are CLD that account for uncertainty by using weights to define relationship strengths (Challenge 3). FCM have been employed to study drought and flood adaptation solutions and their effect on socioeconomic impacts (e.g., Ballesteros‐Olza et al., 2022; Chandra & Gaganis, 2016; Mehryar & Surminski, 2022) (Challenge 5). They have been used to examine past disasters as well as to simulate plausible CCI futures (e.g., D'Agostino et al., 2020).…”

“…,Ballesteros-Olza et al, 2022;Chandra & Gaganis, 2016;Mehryar & Surminski, 2022) (Challenge 5). They have been used to examine past disasters as well as to simulate plausible CCI futures (e.g., D'Agostino et al, 2020) Vanwindekens et al (2018).…”

Exploring Factors Shaping Farmer Behavior in Wastewater Utilization for Agricultural Practices: A Rapid Review

“…For example, Haldar et al [53] show that the enforcement of rules and regulations related to wastewater discharge in the area of the Bengal Delta is only partially implemented and that governmental bodies exhibit limited levels of stakeholder engagement, which is crucial for achieving effective environmental governance. In addition, Ballesteros-Olza [56] highlight the lack of institutional coordination and confusing normative setting in Spain, hampering the implementation of water reuse projects. The results of both of these studies demonstrate that political support for water reuse would enhance the bureaucratic process and encourage the use of treated water.…”

Challenges for Circular Economy under the EU 2020/741 Wastewater Reuse Regulation

“…This common disregard of basin view and hydrological cycle is found in a great share of circular economy analysis of water reuse such as the mentioned original JRC report [ 45 ] and the related recent report by. [ 50 ] Unfortunately academic literature frequently neglect this critical issue with no mention of water balance and basin reuse neither in a recent review on the topic [ 16 ] the term is mentioned, this may be partially justified (although it should have been addressed) in water abundant regions such as northern Italy [ 51 ] but is a serious shortcoming in water scarce regions where environmental flow is already a constraint in the water use and any additional abstraction or reduced return flows increased water shortages such as [ 52 ] in central Spain or [ 53 ] in Korea.…”