The short-term goal of this project is simple: to identify plant species that grow well in treated wastewater, and to inspire a different line of thinking when it comes to what we do with our waste. Longer-term, this project will delve into some of the concerns around re-use of wastewater for growing food crops: Pathogens and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC’s).
Worldwide, treated wastewater and biosolids are increasingly used for irrigation and fertilization, particularly in arid regions. As easily-accessible clean water dwindles, reuse will become a significantly more common practice.