SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Türk Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 13 Issue: 4

Evaluation of the Usability of Treated Urban Wastewater in Agricultural Irrigation: The Case of Çanakkale

Tanya Aktas Ulker(CANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITY)0009-0009-3950-6598
Ismail Tas(ÇANAKKALE ONSEKİZ MART ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-0872-2529
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-10-19
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, it is shown that treated urban wastewater can be used safely and sustainably in agricultural irrigation with appropriate treatment and management strategies, and that this approach will make significant contributions to the conservation of water resources, circular water management, and the reduction of production costs.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:With the increasing demand for water over time, coupled with the effects of climate variability, the pressure on existing clean water resources is dramatically increasing.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The reuse of treated wastewater contributes to reducing water scarcity by providing an alternative and sustainable water resource, while also offering significant advantages in terms of environmental protection and resource efficiency.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, it is shown that treated urban wastewater can be used safely and sustainably in agricultural irrigation with appropriate treatment and management strategies, and that this approach will make significant contributions to the conservation of water resources, circular water management, and the reduction of production costs.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Irrigation · Water Quality · Circular Economy

Abstract

With the increasing demand for water over time, coupled with the effects of climate variability, the pressure on existing clean water resources is dramatically increasing. Today, creating alternative water sources has become essential to reduce the pressure on renewable but limited clean water resources. Therefore, treated wastewater stands out as an important option. The reuse of treated wastewater contributes to reducing water scarcity by providing an alternative and sustainable water resource, while also offering significant advantages in terms of environmental protection and resource efficiency. In this study, the potential for reusing treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants in agricultural irrigation was evaluated using the discharge water of the Çanakkale Wastewater Treatment Plant. Within the scope of the study, physical, chemical, microbiological, and toxicological parameters were analyzed in samples taken from the inlet and outlet points of the treatment plant, and the results obtained were evaluated according to the criteria of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Technical Procedures Regulation in force in Türkiye. Considering the discharge water of the treatment plant, it was determined that it largely remained within the limits of the legislation. In addition, it was determined that there is currently no risk in terms of heavy metals and toxic elements. The study determined that treated wastewater has the potential to reduce the fertilizer needs of plants due to the nutrient elements it contains, and this can lead to a decrease in production costs, providing economic advantages in terms of irrigation water and fertilizer requirements. The irrigable areas identified as a result of the spatial analyses reveal significant potential for use, especially for orchards and field crops. Subsurface drip irrigation systems stand out as the most suitable method due to their increased water use efficiency and reduced hygiene risks. In conclusion, it is shown that treated urban wastewater can be used safely and sustainably in agricultural irrigation with appropriate treatment and management strategies, and that this approach will make significant contributions to the conservation of water resources, circular water management, and the reduction of production costs.

🔖

Cite This Article

Ulker, T. A., Tas, I. (2026). Evaluation of the Usability of Treated Urban Wastewater in Agricultural Irrigation: The Case of Çanakkale. Türk Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi, Volume: 13 Issue: 4. https://doi.org/10.30910/turkjans.2002084

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (30)

  1. Alzahrani, F., Elsebaei, M. and Tawfik, R. (2023). Public Acceptance of Treated Wastewater Reuse in the Agricultural Sector in Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 15(21), 15434. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115434
  2. Anonymous (2023). Arıtılmış atıksuların yeniden kullanımına ilişkin fizibilite raporu: Çanakkale Belediyesi İleri Biyolojik Atıksu Arıtma Tesisleri. Env Enerji Çevre Yönetimi ve Teknolojileri San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.
  3. Arborea, S., Giannoccaro, G., De Gennaro, B., Iacobellis, V. and Piccinni, A. (2017). Cost-Benefit Analysis of Wastewater Reuse in Puglia, Southern Italy. Water, 9(3), 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030175
  4. Areosa, I., Martins, T. A. E., Lourinho, R., Batista, M., Brito, A. G. and Amaral, L. (2024). Treated Wastewater Reuse for İrrigation: A Feasibility Study in Portugal. Science of the Total Environment, 954, 176698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176698
  5. Ayers, R. S. and Westcot, D. W. (1985). Water Quality for Agriculture (FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 29 Rev. 1). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  6. Bayraktar, H. ve Erkmen, B. (2023). Atıksuların Su Kalite Parametrelerinin Değerlendirilmesi Ve Tarımsal Sulama Suyu Olarak Kullanımı: Ankara Örneği. Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(2), 164-177.
  7. Blumenthal, U.J., Peasey, A., Ruiz-Palacios, G. and Mara, D. (2000). Guidelines for Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture and Aquaculture: Recommended Revisions Based on New Research Evidence. WELL Study, Task No. 68, Part 1. Water and Environmental Health at London and Loughborough (WELL), London, UK. http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/well-studies/well-studies.htm
  8. Can, S. ve Dulkadiroğlu, H. (2021). Arıtılmış Atıksuların Tarımda Kullanımı ve İnsan Sağlığı Yönünden Risk Değerlendirmesi. Nevşehir Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi.
  9. Canaj, K., Mehmeti, A. and Berbel, J. (2021). The Economics of Fruit and Vegetable Production Irrigated with Reclaimed Water Incorporating the Hidden Costs of Life Cycle Environmental Impacts. Resources, 10(9), 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources10090090
  10. Chiou, R.-J. (2007). Risk Assessment and Loading Capacity of Reclaimed Wastewater to be Reused for Agricultural İrrigation. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 142(1-3), 255-262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9922-9
  11. Faruquie, N.I., Scott, C.A. and Reschid-Sally, L. (2004). Confronting the realities of wastewater use in agriculture: lesson learned and recommendations. In: Scott CA, Faruquie NI, Reschid-Sally L (eds) Waste water use in irrigated agriculture: confronting the livelihood and environmental realities. CABI Publishing, Wallingford.
  12. Fatta, D., Alaton, I.A., Gokcay, C., Rusan, M.M., Assobhei, O., Mountadar, M. and Papadopoulos, A. (2005). Wastewater reuse: problems and challenges in Cyprus, Turkey, Jordan and Morocco. Eur Water, 11(12), 63-69.
  13. Gökalp, Z., Taş, İ., Özkay, F. ve Akgül, S. (2011). Wastewater Use in İrrigation: Ankara Case Study. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(1), 191-197.
  14. Hoekstra, A. Y. ve Mekonnen, M. M. (2012). The Water Footprint of Humanity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(9), 3232-3237. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1109936109
  15. Mañas, P., Castro, E. and De Las Heras, J. (2009). Irrigation with Treated Wastewater: Effects on Soil, Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Crop and Dynamics of Microorganisms. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 44(12), 1261-1273. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934520903140033
  16. Mancuso, G., Parlato, M. C. M., Lavrnić, S., Toscano, A. and Valenti, F. (2022). GIS-Based Assessment of the Potential for Treated Wastewater Reuse in Agricultural Irrigation: A Case Study in Northern Italy. Sustainability, 14(15), 9364. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159364
  17. Mara, D., & Cairncross, S. (1989). Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater and excreta in agriculture and aquaculture: Measures for public health protection. World Health Organization.
  18. Miller-Robbie, L., Ramaswami, A. and Amerasinghe, P. (2017). Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Urban Agriculture: Exploring the Food, Energy, Water, and Health Nexus in Hyderabad, India. Environmental Research Letters, 12(7), 075005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa6bfe
  19. Pescod, M. B. (1992). Wastewater Treatment and Use in Agriculture (FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 47). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  20. Pitton, B. J. L., Hall, C. R., Haver, D. L., White, S. A. and Oki, L. R. (2018). A Cost Analysis for Using Recycled İrrigation Runoff Water in Container Nursery Production: A Southern California Nursery Case Study. Irrigation Science, 36(4-5), 217-226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-018-0578-8
  21. Resmî Gazete. (2022, 17 Aralık). Su Kirliliği Kontrolü Yönetmeliğinde Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Yönetmelik. T.C. Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği Bakanlığı. Resmî Gazete, Sayı: 32046.
  22. Talvitie, J., Heinonen, M., Pääkkönen, J. P., Vahtera, E., Mikola, A., Setälä, O., & Vahala, R. (2015). Do wastewater treatment plants act as a potential point source of microplastics? Preliminary study in the coastal Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Water Science and Technology, 72(9), 1495-1504.
  23. Tas, I. (2020). Use of Waste Water as Irrigation Water. Academic Studies in Engineering, Gece Kitaplığı. ISBN: 978-625-7912-16-7
  24. Tas, I. (2024). Kullanılmış Suların, Sulamada Yeniden Kullanımıyla Sağlanan Su ve Gübre Tasarrufu. In N. Keskin, Z. Gökbayır, & B. İşçi (Eds.), Tarıma Çok Yönlü Yaklaşım: Ürün ve Bilgi Üretimi 1 (pp. 323-368). İKSAD Publishing House. https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14277855
  25. Tas, I. (2025). Sulama Suyu Olarak Atık Su Kullanımının Oluşturduğu Sağlık Riskleri. G. Bengisu & C. Demir (Eds.), Ziraat, Orman ve Su Ürünleri Alanında Akademik Çalışmalar XIX. İKSAD Publishing House. https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17224356
  26. Tas, I., Ozkay, F., Gokalp, Z., Tekiner, M. (2007). Atık Su Artımında Ters Osmoz Sistemlerinin Kullanılması. Ulusal Çevre Sempozyumu Mersin Üniversitesi Çevre Mühendisliği Bölümü. 18-21 Nisan 2007. Mersin.
  27. Tas, I., Yıldırım, Y. E. ve Özkay, F. (2015). The potentiality of wastewater use for irrigation in Turkey. In M. N. V. Prasad (Ed.), Plants, Pollutants and Remediation (pp. 327-348). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2644-2_18
  28. United Nations (Birleşmiş Milletler) (2023). World Water Development Report. United Nations.
  29. Vaz da Costa Vargas, S., Bastos, R.K.X. and Mara, D.D. (1996). Bacteriological aspects of wastewater irrigation. Tropical Public Health Engineering (TPHE) Research Monograph no.8, University of Leeds (Department of Civil Engineering), Leeds, UK.
  30. World Health Organization. (2006). Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater: Volume 2. Wastewater Use in Agriculture. World Health Organization.