Could Recycled Urban Wastewater Provide Irrigation for Agriculture? The Case of the Escondido Region of California

Ami Reznik and Ariel Dinar

from ARE Update Vol. 23, No. 4, Mar/Apr, 2020

View Article PDF: Could Recycled Urban Wastewater Provide Irrigation for Agriculture? The Case of the Escondido Region of California

Abstract

Reuse of treated urban wastewater for beneficial purposes can mitigate water scarcity. However, its costs and benefits are uncertain. We examine reuse feasibility through a regional modeling framework in the Escondido region of California. Optimal results pertaining to avocado production in the region suggest significant reduction in cultivated area and preference of potable water over treated wastewater. However, supportive policies aimed at sustaining
agricultural activity in the region, such as subsidizing high-quality, treated wastewater used for irrigation, could be socially cost effective.

Keywords

Agricultural policies, water quality, tradeoff, regional model, welfare

Citation

Ami Reznik and Ariel Dinar. 2020. "Could Recycled Urban Wastewater Provide Irrigation for Agriculture? The Case of the Escondido Region of California." ARE Update 23(4): 9-12. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1587396051/19625/