ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how to evaluate the chemical quality of treated wastewater for use in irrigating plants. The quality of treated municipal wastewater depends to a great extent on the quality of the municipal water supply, nature of the wastes added during use, and the degree of treatment the wastewater has received. There are no specific requirements in California on the frequency of sampling reclaimed wastewater used for irrigation. The primary factor in evaluating water quality for irrigation is the quantity and kind of salt present in the water supplies. As salinity increases in the reclaimed wastewater used for irrigation, the probability for certain soil, water, and cropping problems increases. Salinity, measured by electrical conductivity, is the single most important parameter in determining the suitability of water for irrigation. Occasional problems of abnormal pH, corrosion of pipelines and equipment, irrigation water system clogging and high residual chlorine occur when using reclaimed wastewater is used.
