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
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/