Sewage Irrigates 10% of the World’s Crops

 

Watering with sewage can spread gastrointestinal and other disease and should be avoided.

This is a largely hidden practice and is outlawed in many countries. However, many farmers, especially those in urban areas, use sewage because it is free and abundant, even during droughts, Being full of nitrates and phosphates, it also acts as an effective fertilizer. In parts of Mexico, Jordan, Israel and Tunisia, sewage is treated to remove pathogens to make it safe for irrigation. But in India, China and Pakistan, treatment is rare, exposing crops to disease-causing pathogens and toxic industrial waste.